What schools had the most 2024 NFL draft picks (and where did Penn State rank)? (2024)

Brad Wakai

April 29, 2024 6:16 am ET

While this isn’t always the case, many times the strength of a national college football program can be determined by how many players are playing at the next level following getting drafted by NFL teams.

Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama, and now Michigan have put tons of their players into the NFL.

Penn State is now getting there as well which is a testament to the recruiting team and the development that their coaching staff does to get them ready for the next level.

With the 2024 NFL draft now officially in the books, it is known how many players from each school was taken.

Here is where the Nittany Lions rank on the most drafted list. And here is what conferences had the most NFL draft picks in 2024.

T15 – Auburn, Utah

T13 – Clemson, LSU, Missouri

Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

Players Selected: 6

It was a bit of a down year for LSU and Clemson in regards to their normal number of draftees, but with three players taken in the first round, LSU still was able to produce top-end talent, including the Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels.

Missouri, on the other hand, had to be elated by the number of players that had selected following Eliah Drinkwitz’s fourth season at the helm.

T10 – Notre Dame, USC

Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports

Players Selected: 7

These two programs are certainly no strangers to seeing their players get picked by NFL teams as they both have the most players picked all time. They added to their total numbers early when Caleb Williams went No. 1 overall and Joe Alt was selected at No. 5.

T8 – Georgia, Oregon, Penn State

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Players Selected: 8

Penn State finds themselves on the list here paired with good company. It was a great draft for the Nittany Lions as they had two first round picks and were able to have many of their players fill out rosters in the later rounds.

Based on the success that Georgia has had, they didn’t quite have as many players get picked as usual, but that will likely change soon. With Oregon joining the Big Ten starting this season, their recruiting profile should only increase under their head coach Dan Lanning.

T5 - Alabama, Florida State, Washington

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Players Selected: 10

Alabama is used to being a team who is at the top of these lists, but it’s been a while for Florida State and Washington to have so many players drafted to the NFL.

Based on the years that the Seminoles and Huskies had (one going undefeated in the regular season and the other being in the National Championship) it shouldn’t be surprising to see so many of their players getting a chance at the next level.

Alabama and Washington also had three players go in the first round, while Florida State had one.

2. Texas

USA TODAY

Players Selected: 11

Routinely touted as one of the most talented teams in college football, that came to fruition during the NFL draft when Texas had 11 of their players get selected across the seven rounds. Two of them were first round picks as well, highlighting their top-end talent combined with depth.

Heading into the SEC for this year, they’ll certainly need to keep recruiting and developing the talent that Steve Sarkisian has been able to stockpile as they are facing a much tougher schedule.

1. Michigan

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Players Selected: 13

It should come as no surprise that Michigan had the most players selected in the NFL draft this year as they had so many returning pieces to accomplish their goal of winning a National Championship.

They came up just short of the all-time record for most players selected in a single draft that Georgia set in 2022 when they had 15 players taken across the seven rounds.