NFL Draft: What are the ten Greatest Draft Courses Produced by a School Since 2000?

[ad_1] Ohio State might do one thing that no program has achieved in practically 60 years when the 2026 NFL Draft commences on Thursday. With Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese, linebacker Sonny Types, vast receiver Carnell Tate and security Caleb Downs all seen as among the many prime prospects on this yr's draft, the Buckeyes might change into the primary program to have 4 top-10 picks within the NFL Draft since Michigan State did so in 1967.

As these 4 gamers will virtually assuredly be taken within the first spherical, Ohio State might need one other participant get chosen within the first 32 picks. Defensive deal with Kayden McDonald has been featured as a first-round decide in a number of mock drafts.

Suffice it to say, this Ohio State draft class may very well be among the many finest a faculty has produced in a single yr. So, that bought us pondering: What are the ten finest draft courses ever produced by a school in a single yr?

Nicely, we picked the ten finest, all based mostly on school manufacturing and with some assist from FOX Sports activities Analysis. We determined to depart the 2026 Ohio State draft class off this listing as we do not know what number of Buckeyes can be drafted this weekend. However do not fret, Ohio State followers, your group is represented on this listing.

10. 2015 Florida State (11 gamers chosen, 2 gamers in first spherical) Jameis Winston received a Heisman Trophy and led FSU to a nationwide title throughout his school profession. (Picture by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Pictures)

Notable gamers: Jameis Winston (No. 1 general decide), Cam Erving (19), Mario Edwards Jr. (35), Eddie Goldman (39), Ronald Darby (50), Nick O'Leary (194), Bobby Hart (226)

The Seminoles received a nationwide title in 2013 and took their solely 2014 loss within the championship recreation to Oregon, with Winston successful a Heisman Trophy and changing into the No. 1 general decide. He began 5 years in Tampa however could not restrict his turnovers, throwing 33 touchdowns to 30 interceptions in 2019 in his final yr as a full-time starter. His one Professional Bowl is the one one from this class, however he, Edwards, Goldman and Corridor are nonetheless energetic gamers greater than a decade later.

9. 2010 Florida (9 gamers chosen, 3 gamers in first spherical) Tim Tebow was one in every of a handful of future first-round picks on his groups at Florida. (Picture by Gary W. Inexperienced/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune Information Service through Getty Pictures)

Notable gamers: Joe Haden (7), Maurkice Pouncey (18), Tim Tebow (25), Carlos Dunlap (54), Brandon Spikes (62), Main Wright (75), Aaron Hernandez (113)

The Gators received nationwide championships in 2006 and 2008 behind this group, and made a powerful case to win three titles in 4 years. Tebow, a Heisman winner, by no means discovered the identical success within the NFL and Hernandez performed solely three seasons earlier than his arrest and conviction for homicide. Pouncey had 9 Professional Bowl picks and Haden had three, ending with 29 profession interceptions, whereas Dunlap quietly bought to 100 profession sacks.

8. 2006 Ohio State (9 gamers chosen, 5 gamers in first spherical) Nick Mangold and A.J. Hawk have been cornerstones for Ohio State within the mid-2000s. (Picture by Tom Pidgeon/Getty Pictures)

Notable gamers: A.J. Hawk (5), Donte Whitner (8), Bobby Carpenter (18), Santonio Holmes (25), Nick Mangold (29)

Because the Buckeyes put together to probably have 5 gamers go within the first spherical of this yr's draft, that they had 5 gamers go in Spherical 1 20 years in the past. By way of NFL manufacturing, the late Nick Mangold headlined the group, incomes seven Professional Bowl nods. However Hawk (a two-time All-American), Whitner (All-Large Ten) and Holmes (two-time All-Large Ten) every had productive NFL careers. Hawk and Whitner each performed greater than 150 video games and Holmes was a Tremendous Bowl hero, catching the successful landing for the Steelers to beat the Cardinals with 35 seconds left. The 2005 Buckeyes went 10-2 and completed fourth, making the nationwide title recreation in 2006 solely to lose to Florida.

7. 2016 Ohio State (12 gamers chosen, 5 gamers in first spherical) Ezekiel Elliott was the most effective operating backs in Ohio State's historical past earlier than changing into an NFL star. (Picture by Tom Pennington/Getty Pictures)

Notable gamers: Joey Bosa (3), Ezekiel Elliott (4), Eli Apple (10), Taylor Decker (16), Darron Lee (20), Michael Thomas (47), Vonn Bell (61), Nick Vannett (94), Cardale Jones (139)

Ten years after it had 5 gamers go within the spherical of the 2006 NFL Draft, Ohio State had 5 gamers go within the first spherical within the 2016 draft. That group of first-rounders, plus the likes of Thomas, helped the Buckeyes win a nationwide title in 2014 and went 12-1 in 2015, however fell in need of going back-to-back. Nonetheless, seven of those gamers have been named an All-American in some unspecified time in the future throughout their time at Ohio State. By way of NFL manufacturing, Bosa has made 5 Professional Bowls and 6 gamers from this class have a minimum of 100 profession video games. Elliott and Thomas have been each dominant early on, with three Professional Bowls of their first 4 seasons, however none after that. That 2015 Buckeyes group included future stars in Joe Burrow, Terry McLaurin and Marshon Lattimore as freshmen.

6. 2020 LSU (14 gamers chosen, 5 gamers in first spherical) Joe Burrow quarterbacked one of many prime school groups of all-time at LSU. (Picture by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Pictures)

Notable gamers: Joe Burrow (1), Okay'Lavon Chaisson (20), Justin Jefferson (22), Patrick Queen (28), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (32), Grant Delpit (44), Kristian Fulton (61), Damien Lewis (69), Lloyd Cushenberry III (83)

One of the crucial dominant school soccer groups of all-time created the most effective draft courses for a program ever. LSU went 15-0 to win the nationwide title in 2019, and Burrow and Jefferson are actually NFL superstars, making a mixed $415 million on their second professional contracts. Delpit, in the meantime, was a star in school, incomes the Thorpe Award for the nation's finest defensive again in 2019. As evidenced by Burrow's and Jefferson's contracts, this draft class has translated nicely within the NFL. The mixed profession Approximate Worth for this class is 346, in response to Professional Soccer Reference. For context, it is rapidly approaching the mixed AV of the 2002 Miami (Fla.) class (357), which holds the report. That 2019 Tigers group was supremely gifted, with future top-five picks like vast receiver Ja'Marr Chase and cornerback Derek Stingley additionally on the roster, and Buffalo Payments head coach Joe Brady there as passing recreation coordinator.

5. 2018 Alabama (12 gamers chosen, 4 gamers in first spherical) Earlier than changing into a terrific NFL security, Minkah Fitzpatrick was among the many prime defensive backs in school soccer throughout his time at Alabama. (Picture by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Pictures)

Notable gamers: Minkah Fitzpatrick (11), Da'Ron Payne (13), Rashaan Evans (22), Calvin Ridley (26), Ronnie Harrison (93), Da'Shawn Hand (114), Anthony Averett (118), JK Scott (172), Bradley Bozeman (215)

Alabama received nationwide titles in 2015 and 2017 with a wealth of future NFL expertise, as evidenced by the draft class it put out in 2018. Fitzpatrick was the headliner of this group in school and the NFL. He received the Bendarik and Thorpe Awards in school earlier than incomes 5 Professional Bowl nods in his NFL profession. A number of different gamers from this Alabama group have been named first or second-team All-SEC as nicely. Ridley has had a powerful NFL profession, however the depth of this class has additionally stood out. Bozeman, a sixth-round decide, simply retired after eight seasons, and Hand and Scott are nonetheless enjoying as third-day picks. The Tide's draft class did not embody three future NFL beginning quarterbacks from 2017 in Jalen Hurts, Mac Jones and Tua Tagovailoa, together with underclassmen like Quinnen Williams and Josh Jacobs.

4. 2002 Miami (Fla.) (11 gamers chosen, 5 gamers in first spherical) Ed Reed was nearly as dominant as school as he was within the NFL. (Andy Lyons/Allsport)

Notable gamers: Bryant McKinnie (7), Jeremy Shockey (14), Phillip Buchanon (17), Ed Reed (24), Mike Rumph (27), Clinton Portis (51)

As we talked about earlier, this faculty class is the very best by way of NFL manufacturing, in response to Professional Soccer Reference's AV stat. McKinnie, Shockey and Portis have been every stars in school and the NFL. In fact, Reed had a Corridor of Fame NFL profession after being named a first-team All-American twice at Miami. McKinnie performed 179 video games, Shockey had 547 catches and Portis rushed for just below 10,000 yards. Not solely did Miami go 12-0 in successful a nationwide title in 2001, however it additionally held eight of 12 opponents to seven factors or fewer, with just one victory determined by single digits (see their 2004 draft haul as a part of that).

3. 2022 Georgia (15 gamers chosen, 5 gamers in first spherical) Jordan Davis was an elite defensive deal with for Georgia earlier than changing into an elite defensive deal with for the Eagles. (Picture by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Pictures)

Notable gamers: Travon Walker (1), Jordan Davis (13), Quay Walker (22), Devonte Wyatt (28), George Pickens (52), James Cook dinner (63), Nakobe Dean (83), Jamaree Salyer (195)

One other ridiculously deep group. The 15 complete draft picks from the Dawgs are a report for one college in a single draft, and the 5 first-rounders are one off the report. All 5 first-rounders have been on protection, and that does not embody Dean, who was an All-American in school. The 2 Walkers, Davis and Dean have signed free-agent offers value a mixed $264 million. Georgia received the 2021 nationwide championship because of that protection, however that offense had some playmakers, too. Cook dinner has now been successful within the NFL, getting a $48 million contract a yr in the past, and Pickens is in line for a megadeal sooner or later. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken is now the Cleveland Browns' head coach, too. Freshmen on that 2021 group included Brock Bowers, Ladd McConkey, Broderick Jones, Amarius Mims and Kamari Lassiter, all future top-50 picks.

2. 2021 Alabama (10 gamers chosen, 6 gamers in first spherical) DeVonta Smith received the Heisman Trophy and helped Alabama win the nationwide championship in 2020 earlier than he was top-10 decide in 2021. (Picture by Sam Greenwood/Getty Pictures)

Notable gamers: Jaylen Waddle (6), Pat Surtain II (9), DeVonta Smith (10), Mac Jones (15), Alex Leatherwood (17), Najee Harris (24), Landon Dickerson (37), Christian Barmore (38)

Eight gamers from one college within the prime 40 picks is unbelievable, however it is sensible contemplating how dominant this Alabama group was. The Crimson Tide went undefeated in 2020 and received the nationwide championship, successful all however one in every of its 13 video games by double-digits. Smith received the Heisman Trophy that yr, whereas Jones set the single-season report for completion proportion on the time. By way of professional manufacturing, Alabama's 2021 class has logged an AV of 265 in simply 5 seasons, which is a powerful quantity. Waddle, Surtain, Smith, Dickerson and Barmore have already signed extensions value a mixed $396 million.

1. 2004 Miami (Fla.) (9 gamers chosen, 6 gamers in first spherical) Vince Wilfork was one in every of six gamers on the Canes to be drafted within the first spherical of the 2004 NFL Draft. (Picture by Eliot Schechter/Getty Pictures)

Notable gamers: Sean Taylor (5), Kellen Winslow (6), Jonathan Vilma (12), DJ Williams (17), Vernon Carey (19), Vince Wilfork (21)

The six first-rounders are nonetheless tied for essentially the most by one college in a single draft. Though this Miami class is the one one within the prime six of this listing to ot win a nationwide championship within the previous school season, this Canes group was nonetheless dominant in school. They helped this system win the nationwide title in 2001 earlier than going 11-2 beneath Larry Coker in 2003. Brock Berlin was at quarterback and Jarrett Payton led the 2003 group in speeding, showcasing how gifted this group was. 5 of the six Canes gamers taken within the first spherical have been named an All-American in 2003. The one one in every of that group who wasn't named an All-American, Wilfork, arguably had the very best NFL profession of the group, although. Wilfork had 5 Professional Bowl nods, however Vilma had three. Taylor was additionally a two-time Professional Bowler earlier than he was tragically shot and killed at 24 after solely 4 seasons within the NFL.