When you look at the colleges with the most NFL draft picks, the names that pop up are hardly surprising. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish. USC Trojans. Ohio State Buckeyes. All schools with a storied reputation in college football.
But every once in a while, a school better known for basketball breaks through with a blue-chip prospect. The North Carolina Tar Heels are best known for their prowess on the basketball court, but they're also the alma mater of New England Patriots quarterback and 2024 No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye.
Here's a look at some notable NFL legends who plied their preprofessional trade at more traditional basketball schools.
George Blanda
Kentucky Wildcats
Draft: 1949
Pick: No. 119
After a productive collegiate tenure at Kentucky, Blanda put together a remarkable 26-year professional career that spanned four teams and two leagues.
Blanda served as both a kicker and a quarterback, and his prime years came with the Houston Oilers. He joined the team after coming out of a brief retirement, going on to lead the Oilers to a pair of AFL titles. The 1961 AFL Player of the Year was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1981.
Sonny Jurgensen
Duke Blue Devils
Draft: 1957
Pick: No. 43
Jurgensen starred on both sides of the ball with the Blue Devils before zeroing in on quarterback in the NFL. He'd go on to throw for over 32,000 yards to go with 255 passing touchdowns as part of a lengthy career that included five Pro Bowl nods. Jurgensen was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1983.
Lawrence Taylor
North Carolina Tar Heels
Draft: 1981
Pick: No. 2
One of the greatest defensive players ever, Taylor was named Defensive Player of the Year in his rookie season out of North Carolina and didn't look back.
Taylor would go on to accumulate a ridiculous résumé at linebacker for the New York Giants, including nine All-Pro nods, three Defensive Player of the Year Awards and two Super Bowls. He became just the second defensive player to win league MVP, in 1986, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.
Antwaan Randle El
Indiana Hoosiers
Draft: 2002
Pick: No. 62
Randle El is best known as a wide receiver in the NFL, but he served as the Hoosiers' quarterback from 1998 to 2001. His quarterback background would pay dividends during his most famous moment as a professional, when he tossed a 43-yard touchdown to Hines Ward to help the Pittsburgh Steelers seal their Super Bowl XL victory. At the time, he was the only wide receiver to throw a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl.
Gale Sayers
Kansas Jayhawks
Draft: 1965
Pick: No. 4
Despite playing only four full seasons due to injuries, Sayers put together a remarkably productive professional tenure. He led the league in total rushing yards twice, as well as three times on a per-game average basis.
Every year that Sayers completed came with Pro Bowl honors, and he ended his career with an impressive 39 touchdowns in 65 games played. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of Canton's 1977 class.
Howie Long
Villanova Wildcats
Draft: 1981
Pick: No. 48
You'd be forgiven for not realizing Villanova even has a football team, with the Wildcats playing at the FCS level. But it is the alma mater of one of the NFL's best defensive linemen, Las Vegas Raiders legend Howie Long.
Long played 13 seasons for the organization, compiling eight Pro Bowl nods to go with a victory in Super Bowl XVIII. He was elected into the Hall of Fame in 2001.
Troy Aikman
UCLA Bruins
Draft: 1989
Pick: No. 1
Aikman started his collegiate career with the Oklahoma Sooners, but eventually opted to transfer to Westwood and play for UCLA. The decision proved fruitful, as Aikman flourished and became the top pick in the 1989 NFL draft.
He'd go on to spend 12 seasons quarterbacking the Dallas Cowboys, winning three Super Bowls in the process. The six-time Pro Bowler entered the Hall of Fame with the Class of 2006.
Rondé Barber
Virginia Cavaliers
Draft: 1997
Pick: No. 66
A hallmark of consistency for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Barber started over 230 games in the Sunshine State -- including a streak of 215 consecutive regular-season starts. Along the way, the former Cavalier was named an All-Pro three times and a Pro Bowler five times.
Barber also played a key role in the Buccaneers winning Super Bowl XXXVII and was enshrined in the Hall of Fame this past summer.
FAQs
2024 NFL draft is done: Here are all the transformative things it left behind in Detroit. The NFL draft in Detroit was a long time in the making, but it also brought changes to the city that will last for years.
Which cities have hosted the NFL Draft? ›
These cities include: Chicago (1938, 1942-1943, 1951, 1962-1964, 2015-2016); Cleveland (2021); Dallas (2018); Kansas City (2023); Las Vegas (2020); Los Angeles (1956); Milwaukee (1940); New York City (1937, 1939, 1944-1947, 1952, 1955, 1965-2014); Nashville (2019); Paradise, Nevada (2022); Philadelphia (1936, 1944, ...
Who is the host of the NFL Draft? ›
Here's a full breakdown of who will be working the draft on the three network: ESPN: Mike Greenberg (host), Mel Kiper Jr (NFL draft analyst), Booger McFarland (analyst), Louis Riddick (analyst), Molly McGrath (reporter) and Adam Schefter (insider)
Where is the NFL Draft? ›
Host city. Detroit was chosen over Green Bay and Washington, D.C. as the host city on March 28, 2022.
Who was the #1 draft pick in the NFL in 2024? ›
1. Chicago Bears (via trade with Carolina) - Caleb Williams, QB, 6-foot-1, 214 pounds, USC.
Who won the 2024 NFL Draft? ›
Mike Florio and Chris Simms highlight their biggest winners from the 2024 NFL Draft, including Daniel Jones after the Giants passed on a QB, the Eagles' value picks and more.
Where is the 22 NFL Draft? ›
Caesars Forum Paradise, Nevada
What state has the most NFL players drafted? ›
Florida has had the most selections in six of the past 10 drafts (2021, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2013) while Texas has three times (2022, 2020, 2016). Georgia did in 2017 while California tied with Florida in 2013.
Where is the NFL Draft 2025? ›
The 2025 NFL Draft is currently slated to run from April 24–26, 2025, in balmy Green Bay, WI, with Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce, Missouri pass-catcher Luther Burden, and Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter currently sticking out as some of the draft's more interesting presumed prospects.
Who will host the 2025 NFL draft? ›
Green Bay hosts the 2025 NFL Draft, which begins Thursday, April 24. Executive Vice President/General Manager Nick Caserio has completed 21 trades during a Draft weekend since joining the franchise in 2021.
With the first pick, Bell's Eagles selected Heisman Trophy winner Jay Berwanger from the University of Chicago.
Who did Detroit draft in 2024? ›
The Detroit Lions, who finished their 2023 season with a 12-5 record, selected Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold with the 24th overall pick in the first found Thursday. On Friday night, the Lions selected Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. with the 61st overall pick in the second round.
How much do you get paid in the 2024 NFL Draft? ›
2024 NFL Draft Rookie Contract Values
Pick | Player | Total Contract |
---|
1 | Caleb Williams | $39.5M |
2 | Jayden Daniels | $37.7M |
3 | Drake Maye | $36.6M |
4 | Marvin Harrison Jr. | $35.4M |
28 more rows6 days ago
What team has the most picks in the 2024 NFL Draft? ›
Teams with most picks in 2024 NFL draft
There's a three-way tie for the most picks in the draft heading into the first round. The Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams each have 11 draft picks. NFL DRAFT HUB: Latest NFL Draft mock drafts, news, live picks, grades and analysis.
How much does it cost to go to the NFL draft in 2024? ›
NFL Draft Experience
The NFL Draft presented by Bud Light is April 25 – 27, 2024 and entry is FREE! Fans can now register for free entry by downloading the NFL OnePass app or on the web at NFL.com/DraftAccess.
Where is the NFL draft 2025? ›
The 2025 NFL Draft is currently slated to run from April 24–26, 2025, in balmy Green Bay, WI, with Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce, Missouri pass-catcher Luther Burden, and Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter currently sticking out as some of the draft's more interesting presumed prospects.
Is the NFL draft free to attend 2024? ›
The NFL Draft presented by Bud Light is April 25 – 27, 2024 and entry is FREE! Fans can now register for free entry by downloading the NFL OnePass app or on the web at NFL.com/DraftAccess.
Which NFL team has the best 2024 draft? ›
With that in mind, here are your ridiculously hasty 2024 NFL draft grades, with team classes ranked from best to worst:
- Chicago Bears (A+) Duh. ...
- Pittsburgh Steelers (A+) ...
- Philadelphia Eagles (A) ...
- Los Angeles Chargers (A) ...
- New York Giants (A) ...
- Washington Commanders (A-) ...
- Los Angeles Rams (A-) ...
- Indianapolis Colts (A-)
Who had the best draft in 2024? ›
Here is a look at the five best draft classes to come out of the three-day event in Detroit.
- Chicago Bears. ...
- Arizona Cardinals. ...
- Pittsburgh Steelers. ...
- Philadelphia Eagles. ...
- New England Patriots.