College basketball programs around the country are consistent sources of NBA talent, as top schools like Kentucky, Duke, and UNC produce athletes that every year get drafted into the pros. But the college football-to-NFL pipeline is even more productive. There are currently 1,696 active players in the NFL across 32 teams. , 92.7% of those players, or 1,573 athletes, came up through the FBS college football system. What are the colleges with the most NFL players? As you would expect, the sport’s heavy hitters are well-represented. Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan, LSU, and many other college football powerhouses have all graduated dozens of players who are currently suiting up for NFL teams. Check out the list of the colleges with the most NFL players below.
Colleges with the most NFL players
1) Alabama – 62
With 14 national titles, the University of Alabama is the winningest college football team of all time. The Crimson Tide have managed to dominate the landscape of the sport since the 1960s, and, oh yeah, they nabbed a national championship in 1941, too. Considering their unparalleled run of dominance, it is not surprising that the Crimson Tide sit atop the list of colleges with the most NFL players for the ninth straight year. 62 current NFL players came through the University of Alabama. With that kind of representation, we could probably write a list dedicated exclusively to the top ex-Alabama NFL players as well. In fact, let me take a stab at it: Tua Tagovailoa, Kool-Aid McKinstry, DeVonta Smith, Jalen Hurts, Julio Jones, Landon Collins, Amari Cooper, C.J. Mosley, and Kareem Jackson are all former members of the Crimson Tide.
Colleges with the Most NFL Players in 2025 (Continued)
2) Georgia – 57
Next on the list of colleges with the most NFL players is Georgia, with 57 ex-Bulldogs currently in the NFL. Georgia’s three national championships might seem measly compared with some of the all-time powerhouses, but two of those championships came recently, in back-to-back years in 2021 and 2022. Head coach Kirby Smart, one of the highest paid coaches in college football, is certainly living up to his contract. And his proteges are tearing it up in the NFL. Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was a Georgia Bulldog, as were Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens, Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith, and tight-end-of-the-year Brock Bowers.
Check out the UGA Football Schedule and everything you want to know about Bulldog history on our blog.
3) Ohio State – 57
Ohio Stadium, the Buckeyes’ home field, is the third largest college football stadium in the country. Ohio State has won 7 national championships, most recently under head coach Ryan Day in 2024, which makes them tied with Notre Dame as the second-most decorated college football program ever. So it is no wonder that they have currently got 57 players representing them in the NFL, including the Bosa brothers (Joey and Nick), C.J. Stroud, Garrett Wilson, and Marvin Harrison Jr. The 2025 NFL draft saw 14 Buckeyes selected, the most of any school in the draft.
Colleges with the Most NFL Players in 2025 (Continued)
4) Michigan – 44
Tom Brady, unquestionably held to be the greatest quarterback of all time, played all four years of his college career as a Michigan Wolverine. The New England Patriots then took him as the 199th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft. The sole fact of having Tom Brady on their resume would be enough to justify Michigan’s inclusion in this list. But Michigan produces a steady stream of NFL talent, and by the way, they won the national title in 2023. Aidan Hutchinson, Dax Hill, Mike Onwenu, and J.J. McCarthy are among the 44 former Wolverines currently playing in the NFL.
5) LSU – 39
Next on the list is Louisiana State University. LSU has won the national championship three times since the turn of the century, and there are currently 39 former Tigers playing in the NFL. Headlining that group is now-Bengals’ quarterback Joe Burrow, who in 2019 led the Tigers to their third national championship and took home the Heisman trophy while he was at it. The Tigers also boast some of the biggest skill-position names in the NFL with Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, and 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels.
Colleges with the Most NFL Players in 2025 (Continued)
6) Notre Dame – 39
Notre Dame is second only to Alabama in overall national titles, having amassed 8 college football championships over the course of their long and storied history. The Fighting Irish are also embroiled in some of the fiercest rivalries in the sport. There are currently 39 Notre Dame alum playing on NFL teams. Notre Dame has historically produced the most NFL players of any college program in the all-time count, with more than 644 former players having appeared in the NFL across the league’s history.
7) Penn State – 38
Penn State sent a significant number of Nittany Lions to the 2025 NFL Draft, bringing the total number of ex-Penn State players in the pros to 38. Saquon Barkley’s record-breaking 2024 season with the Philadelphia Eagles, including the Super Bowl championship, was a high-profile reminder of the program’s track record. Penn State finished the 2024 season in the College Football Playoff semifinals and is positioned to send more talent to the league in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Colleges with the Most NFL Players in 2025 (Continued)
8) Texas – 37
The Texas Longhorns were a dynasty in the 60s under head coach Darrell K Royal, winning national titles in 1963, 1969, and 1970. The last time the Longhorns won it all was in 2005, so we are coming up on 20 years since their last national championship. But that does not mean that Texas is not a reliable source of NFL talent. There are currently 37 former Longhorns in the NFL. The 2025 NFL draft sent several Texas players to the pros, including first-round running back Jahmyr Gibbs (originally a Crimson Tide transfer) and the rising number of receivers tied to head coach Steve Sarkisian’s offensive system.
9) Oregon – 35
Oregon has produced some high-level NFL talent over the years. Ravens’ tight end Ed Dickson, Patriots’ running back LeGarrette Blount, and Seahawks’ center Max Unger, to pick a few names, were each drafted into the NFL from the University of Oregon. Currently, 35 ex-Ducks play for NFL teams. The program’s recent transition to the Big Ten and consistent run of College Football Playoff appearances under Dan Lanning have produced a steady draft pipeline.
Colleges with the Most NFL Players in 2025 (Continued)
10) Oklahoma – 32
Jalen Hurts, Joe Mixon, Kyler Murray, and Baker Mayfield are among the 32 total Sooners alumni currently active on NFL rosters. Oklahoma’s 2024 move from the Big 12 to the SEC has only intensified the program’s recruiting trail and its draft trajectory, with most of those 32 current pros coming through during the Big 12 era.
11) Florida – 31
Just as Michigan has Tom Brady, Florida has Emmitt Smith. One of the best to ever do it at his position, former Gator running back Emmitt Smith is a three-time Super Bowl champion, a Super Bowl MVP, an eight-time Pro-Bowler, and he is the NFL career leader in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. Ex-Gators currently playing in the NFL include Dante Fowler Jr., Anthony Richardson, Kadarius Toney, and Jawaan Taylor, bringing the total to 31.
Colleges with the Most NFL Players in 2025 (Continued)
12) Iowa – 28
Although the Hawkeyes are not necessarily up there with the truly elite football schools like Alabama and Georgia, they have played above-average ball over the past twenty-plus years, putting up a strong winning percentage under head coach Kirk Ferentz and winning multiple division titles. There are currently 28 Iowa alum playing in the NFL. The program’s track record of producing offensive linemen and tight ends (T.J. Hockenson, Tristan Wirfs, George Kittle) gives it a distinctive draft niche.
13) Texas A&M – 27
Texas A&M has a strong track record of sending players to the NFL. With 27 ex-Aggies currently playing in the NFL, they are certainly one of the colleges with the most NFL players. And in their history, 319 Aggies have gone on to play in the NFL. Eight-time Pro-Bowler and Super Bowl champ Von Miller also played for Texas A&M from 2007 to 2010.
Colleges with the Most NFL Players in 2025 (Continued)
14) Clemson – 26
Trevor Lawrence and Grady Jarrett headline the list of former Clemson Tigers playing in the NFL today. Clemson has a track record of producing high-level NFL talent, from the Chicago Bears’ defensive tackle William Perry, to back-to-back Super Bowl champ Trevor Pryce, to perennial Pro-Bowler Brian Dawkins. Add wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to that list, and the program’s 26 current NFL alumni represent some of the highest-profile names in the league.
15) Stanford – 26
Stanford is another school with an absolute legend amongst their alumni: John Elway. Easily one of the best quarterbacks of all time, Elway was a Stanford Cardinal from 1979-1982. He was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in 1983, but never played a game for them, instead playing out his entire career, 16 seasons, for the Denver Broncos. Over the course of his tenure as a Bronco, he led the team to five Super Bowl appearances and two Super Bowl wins. Elway retired in 1998. Currently, 26 ex-Cardinals are on NFL rosters, including Christian McCaffrey and Andrew Luck-era contemporaries who remain in the league.
Colleges with the Most NFL Players in 2025 (Continued)
16) Tennessee – 26
Tennessee has produced a steady stream of NFL talent over its long and storied program history. With 26 ex-Volunteers currently on NFL rosters, the program continues to be a meaningful pipeline to the pros. Peyton Manning, who quarterbacked the Vols from 1994 to 1997, is one of the program’s defining alumni; he went on to a Hall of Fame NFL career split between the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos, won two Super Bowls, and was named NFL MVP a record five times. The program’s ongoing renaissance under head coach Josh Heupel has also produced quarterback Hendon Hooker (currently with the Detroit Lions) and a wave of recent draftees who have boosted Tennessee back into the upper tier of NFL talent producers.
17) USC – 26
The Trojans’ last couple of years under head coach Lincoln Riley have been a bit of a seesaw act, but the program continues to produce NFL talent at a steady clip. There are 26 ex-Trojans currently in the NFL, Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears and Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks among them. USC’s recent move to the Big Ten has not slowed the program’s draft pipeline, with multiple Trojans selected in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Colleges with the Most NFL Players in 2025 (Continued)
18) South Carolina – 25
South Carolina has 25 ex-Gamecocks on NFL rosters in 2025, making the program a notable presence among the colleges with the most NFL players. Defensive back Stephon Gilmore, a former Gamecock, is a five-time Pro Bowler and Defensive Player of the Year winner who has played for the Bills, Patriots, Cowboys, and Vikings. Jadeveon Clowney, the first overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft, was also a Gamecock; he has spent 11 seasons in the NFL across six teams. Add cornerback Keisean Nixon (a Pro Bowl returner for the Packers) to that list, and the Gamecocks have a steady track record of producing defensive standouts who stick in the league for the long haul.
19) Washington – 25
The Washington Huskies finished the 2023 season ranked 2nd in the AP Top 25 and reached the national championship game. They also have a reputation for producing NFL-caliber talent, especially at the quarterback position. Michael Penix Jr., who led the Huskies to the 2024 national championship game, was taken as the 8th overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2024 NFL draft and is now starting for Atlanta. There are currently 25 ex-Huskies on NFL rosters.
Colleges with the Most NFL Players in 2025 (Continued)
20) UCLA – 24
Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback Troy Aikman and Baltimore Ravens’ offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden are probably the two most successful former UCLA Bruins of all time. Aikman won three Super Bowls with the Cowboys, was selected to the Pro Bowl six times, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006. Additionally, Ogden, who, like Aikman, played his entire career for one team, earned eleven Pro Bowl selections, won a Super Bowl with the Ravens in 2001, and became a Hall-of-Famer in 2013. This year, 24 UCLA alumni are on NFL rosters.
21) Wisconsin – 24
There are currently 24 former Wisconsin Badgers signed to NFL teams. The headliner? Russell Wilson. The longtime Seattle Seahawk turned Denver Bronco turned Pittsburgh Steeler and now-New York Giant has had a magical career. He won the Super Bowl with Seattle in 2014 and took the Seahawks to another Super Bowl the following year. T.J. Watt, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ All-Pro defensive end, is another Wisconsin alum still tearing up the league. With 24 alumni currently in the NFL and a total of more than 330 ex-Badgers who have gone on to the pros, the University of Wisconsin is undoubtedly one of the colleges with the most NFL players.
Colleges with the Most NFL Players in 2025 (Continued)
22) University of Miami – 22
The U has produced plenty of NFL talent over the years, and today there are 22 ex-Canes on NFL rosters. The best of the bunch? Ray Lewis, who played for the University of Miami from 1993 to 1995. Lewis, who spent his entire career a Baltimore Raven, is a two-time Super Bowl champ, a Super Bowl MVP, and a no-doubt hall-of-famer. Recent first-round picks like Cam Ward continue Miami’s tradition of producing high-end NFL talent.
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