30 Colleges That Produce the Best NFL Players

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5. Miami
> All-time NFL players: 348
> Pro Bowls: 176
> Alumni in Hall of Fame: 7
> Notable players: Ray Lewis, Michael Irvin

The Miami Hurricanes have sent so many terrific players to the NFL in the past 20 years that it can be difficult to keep them all straight. In 2004, the Hurricanes set a record for the most first round picks from one school with six. There are currently seven Hall of Fame players who went to Miami, but that number will certainly grow once more of the players from the early 2000s Miami teams become eligible.

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4. Penn State
> All-time NFL players: 378
> Pro Bowls: 117
> Alumni in Hall of Fame: 6
> Notable players: Jack Ham, Franco Harris

Penn State University is nicknamed “Linebacker U.” for good reason — nearly 70 of the 378 players who have gone to the NFL played that position for the Nittany Lions. Among them was LaVar Arrington, Jack Ham, and NaVorro Bowman. Penn State produced perhaps the most buzzed-about athlete for the 2018 draft in RB Saquon Barkley. He wowed scouts with his strength, speed, and agility. Barkley will likely be one of the earliest picks.

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3. Ohio State
> All-time NFL players: 458
> Pro Bowls: 167
> Alumni in Hall of Fame: 8
> Notable players: Ezekiel Elliott, Orlando Pace

Coach Urban Meyer has returned Ohio State to its status as one of the top football programs in the country and has helped the Buckeyes develop top-tier NFL talent. Eight Buckeyes have been drafted in the first round of the past two drafts. Players like Joey Bosa and Marshon Lattimore already look like stars early in their careers.

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2. USC
> All-time NFL players: 510
> Pro Bowls: 234
> Alumni in Hall of Fame: 12
> Notable players: Marcus Allen, Bruce Matthews

The University of Southern California is tied with Notre Dame University as the school with the most overall No. 1 draft picks — running backs O.J. Simpson (1969) and Ricky Bell (1977), wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson (1996), quarterback Carson Palmer (2003), and tackle Ron Yary (1968). Eighty Trojans have been picked in the first round of the NFL Draft. Quarterback Sam Darnold might join that group in the upcoming NFL Draft. Twelve players from USC have been inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.

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1. Notre Dame
> All-time NFL players: 567
> Pro Bowls: 182
> Alumni in Hall of Fame: 13
> Notable players: Joe Montana, Tim Brown

Notre Dame may be the most storied program in college football and it is without a doubt the best when it comes to producing NFL players. Quarterbacks like Joe Theismann, Joe Montana, and Daryle Lamonica are some of the game’s all time greats. The staggering amount of talent that has passed through South Bend, Indiana, provided the school with a rich sporting tradition unlike any other college. The Fighting Irish have 11 national championships, seven Heisman Trophy winners, and have produced 66 first round draft picks. Two Notre Dame linemen, Quenton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey, seem likely to boost that number to 68 first rounders in 2018. Notre Dame also is tied with USC for the most first overall draft picks with five. The school also boasts 567 NFL players and 13 NFL Hall of Famers — both more than any other school.