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NCAA

NCAA

What university football programs have the most overall No.1 draft picks in NFL history?

Four American universities have had the opportunity to hold the number one overall pick in the NFL Draft five times over the league’s 87-year history.

Svetozar Pavlović
Svetozar Pavlovićceletozasveta
Jalen Carter of the University of Georgia Bulldogs
KEVIN C. COXAFP

The first NFL draft was held in 1936, and since then, 51 colleges have produced the most coveted selection of each draft year: the No. 1 overall pick. In 2021, Trevor Lawrence from Clemson was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars, and in 2022, Travon Walker from Georgia was on top as the same team picked him. The latest No. 1 overall pick was Alabama QB Bryce Young, who the Carolina Panthers selected with the top pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Young became the second No. 1 overall pick in Alabama’s history and the first since 1948.

In 2022, Georgia DE Travon Walker became the fifth Georgia player to go No. 1 overall, the same number of No. 1 picks produced by Notre Dame, Southern California, and Oklahoma.

In 2020, the Cincinnati Bengals picked Joe Burrow with the top spot in the NFL Draft. Burrow, who won the 2019 Heisman Trophy, became the third LSU player to be drafted No. 1 overall.

The university football programs have the most overall No.1 draft picks

Here are the schools with the most No. 1 selections since the National Football League Draft began in 1936:

University of Georgia (5)

  • Travon Waker (2022),
  • Matthew Stafford (2009),
  • Harry Babcock (1953),
  • Charley Trippi (1945),
  • Frank Sinkwich (1943)

Notre Dame (5)

  • Walt Patulski (1972),
  • Paul Hornung (1957),
  • Leon Hart (1950),
  • Frank Dancewicz (1946),
  • Angelo Bertelli (1944)

University of Oklahoma (5)

  • Kyler Murray (2019),
  • Baker Mayfield (2018),
  • Sam Bradford (2010),
  • Billy Sims (1980),
  • Lee Roy Selmon (1976)

USC (5)

  • Carson Palmer (2003),
  • Keyshawn Johnson (1996),
  • Ricky Bell (1977),
  • O.J. Simpson (1969),
  • Ron Yary (1968)

Auburn University (4)

  • Cam Newton (2011),
  • Aundray Bruce (1988),
  • Bo Jackson (1986),
  • Tucker Frederickson (1965)

Stanford University(4)

  • Andrew Luck (2012),
  • John Elway (1983),
  • Jim Plunkett (1971),
  • Bobby Garrett (1954)