There’s a mantra often repeated by NFL scouts: Draft the player, not the helmet.
But while it makes sense to evaluate every prospect individually and avoid the trap of comparing one player to a predecessor from the same school just because they wore the same uniform, there is no denying that some college programs are factories for producing NFL talent at certain positions.
Heck, Penn State has been calling itself “Linebacker U.” for a half-century.
The Post (with help from Pro Football Reference’s database) researched every draft pick since 2010 to determine which programs really are the best of the best.
Here’s “U. Who?”
Quarterback U.: Oklahoma
QBs drafted since 2010: 5
Ohio State and Alabama have more quarterbacks drafted in that time span (six each, including three first-rounders each) but the collective group is less inspiring than Oklahoma’s: Jalen Hurts, Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield, Landry Jones and Sam Bradford. That’s three No. 1 overall picks, three projected 2026 starters and a Super Bowl MVP.
FCS power North Dakota State produced four quarterbacks (all since 2016), including two top three picks. California, LSU, Oregon, Alabama, USC and Louisville all lay claim to two projected 2026 starters.
The real X factor is Lincoln Riley, who coached Hurts, Murray, Mayfield and USC’s Caleb Williams (another No. 1 overall pick) between his two stops. Williams played at Oklahoma as a freshman, too.
Running Back U.: Alabama
RBs drafted since 2010: 13
It’s a quantity and quality win for Alabama.
No other school has more than nine.
And Alabama’s list includes Pro Bowlers Eddie Lacy, Josh Jacobs, Mark Ingram, Derrick Henry, Najee Harris and Jahmyr Gibbs.
In an era of devalued running backs, Jacobs, Ingram, Harris and Gibbs are first-rounders — but none were drafted as high as bust Trent Richardson (No. 3).
Georgia (nine) has an outside claim with Todd Gurley, James Cook, D’Andre Swift, Nick Chubb and Sony Michel among its most accomplished. USC’s nine mostly became backups.
Tight End U.: Iowa
TEs drafted since 2010: 7
Notre Dame fancies itself “Tight End U.” and its nine draftees since 2010 is tied for the most with Miami. Kyle Rudolph and Tyler Eifert have three combined Pro Bowls for the Irish, while Jimmy Graham and David Njoku have six for the Hurricanes.
Iowa is synonymous with running the ball and defense, but there’s something in the water when George Kittle, Sam LaPorta and T.J. Hockenson (10 combined Pro Bowls) set the foundation to be more productive pass catchers in the NFL than in Iowa City. Noah Fant was a first-rounder, too.
Stanford (Zach Ertz and Austin Hooper) and Penn State (Tyler Warren) can claim eight apiece.
Wide Receiver U.: Ohio State
WRs drafted since 2010: 14
The title has changed hands within the course of the last 16 years.
Looking for volume? LSU has 16 draft picks, led by four of the top seven in receiving yards in 2024 (Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Brian Thomas Jr. and Malik Nabers). And Odell Beckham Jr. might’ve been the NFL’s best in his heyday.
Looking for first-rounders? Seven of Alabama’s 12 draft picks fit the bill (Amari Cooper, DeVonta Smith, Henry Ruggs III, Julio Jones, Jerry Jeudy, Jameson Williams, Jaylen Waddle and Calvin Ridley), though only one of those is since 2021.
Looking for a factory? Ohio State is about to have a first-round receiver (Carnell Tate) for the fifth straight draft — and it surely will be six when Jeremiah Smith is potentially the No. 1 pick in 2027.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (2025 Offensive Player of the Year), Chris Olave (2025 second-team All-Pro), Garrett Wilson (2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year) have accolades, and Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr. should too before long. Five-time 1,000-yard receiver Terry McLaurin and 2019 Offensive Player of the Year Michael Thomas were Day 2 steals.
Offensive Line U.: Alabama
OL drafted since 2010: 21
It’s ironic that Alabama offensive linemen have a reputation for not panning out — and yet NFL teams keep going to the well. Not only for a league-high 21 draft picks but also a league-high 10 first-rounders even though Ryan Kelly and Landon Dickerson are the only Pro Bowlers.
Ohio State (20) and Georgia (19) are nipping at Alabama’s heels, but their products haven’t fared much better in terms of accolades.
A couple of wild cards: Iowa, with 12 draft picks, boasts 13 Pro Bowls out of first-rounders Tristan Wirfs, Brandon Scherff and Tyler Linderbaum.
And Notre Dame (14) has four Pro Bowlers: Future Hall of Famers Zack Martin and Quenton Nelson, plus Ronnie Stanley and Joe Alt.
Defensive Tackle U.: Alabama
DTs drafted since 2010: 12
Ten of Alabama’s 12 were picked in the first or second rounds. Marcell Dareus, Daron Payne and Quinnen Williams have the Pro Bowls, but Dalvin Tomlinson, A’Shawn Robinson, Christian Barmore and others have carved out strong careers.
LSU actually has 13 draft picks but only one first-rounder (Michael Brockers) and no Pro Bowlers.
Georgia (eight) is gaining ground with its recent defense pipeline to the Eagles (Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis), after Geno Atkins’ distinguished eight-Pro Bowl career.
Edge U.: Ohio State
Edges drafted since 2010: 19
If it was just the Bosas vs. the Watts, the edge would go to Wisconsin.
But the Bosas have the company of 17 others, including fellow first-rounders and Pro Bowlers Cameron Heyward and his Steelers teammate Ryan Shazier.
Chase Young was Defensive Rookie of the Year. Seventh-round pick Jonathon Cooper is having the career that first-rounder Darron Lee never did.
Wisconsin has only 11 picks — fewer than Alabama (17), Georgia (15), Florida State (15), Penn State (15) Michigan (14) and Clemson (14), among others.
Georgia developed an NFL-best six first-rounders, including a No. 1 overall pick (Travon Walker) and four-time Pro Bowler Justin Houston.
Linebacker U: Alabama
LBs drafted since 2010: 12
This one is going to hurt in State College, Pa.
But, if Micah Parsons and Abdul Carter count as edges, Penn State is left without a first-rounder. Draft steals Sean Lee and NaVorro Bowman combined for five Pro Bowls.
But three SEC powers have more fruitful trees: Alabama (12), LSU (12) and Georgia (11).
You can’t do much better than an all-LSU pairing of Patrick Queen and Devin White … unless you turn to the all-Alabama seven-Pro Bowl duo of C.J. Mosley and Dont’a Hightower.
Playing middle linebacker under former head coach Nick Saban was practically a ticket into the first round (six) — none higher than Rolando McClain (No. 8 overall in 2010).
Safety U.: Alabama
Safeties drafted since 2010: 12
There is a draft sweet spot for second-round safeties from Alabama.
The tradition started with Landon Collins (three Pro Bowls), continued with his Giants replacement Xavier McKinney (one) and is in the promising young hands of Brian Branch (one). Of course, first-rounders Minkah Fitzpatrick (five) and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (one) and fourth-rounder Eddie Jackson (two) also made their mark.
It’s a big drop to Texas’ eight safeties. But the list is impressive when it counts future Hall of Famer Earl Thomas, three-time Pro Bowler Quandre Diggs and first-rounder Kenny Vaccaro.
A surprise go-to for depth is California, with eight products.
Cornerback U.: LSU
CBs drafted since 2010: 16
Close call between LSU and Ohio State (13).
How do you argue with Ohio State’s six first-rounders? Well, three are major busts (Jeff Okudah, Eli Apple and Damon Arnette). And none of its non-first-rounders have joined pride points Marshon Lattimore (four) and Denzel Ward (five) in a Pro Bowl.
It’s not just LSU’s volume that jumps out. Future Hall of Famer Patrick Peterson leads a class that includes two-time Pro Bowlers Tre’Davious White and Derek Stingley Jr.
Under the rules of this exercise, three-time Pro Bowler Tyrann Mathieu counts as a cornerback (rookie position) even though he moved to safety later in his career.
Morris Claiborne (No. 6 pick) didn’t reach his potential, but Cor’Dale Flott is raising his ceiling.
Honorable mention to Florida State, with 13 cornerbacks, including Pro Bowlers Jalen Ramsey (eight) and Xavier Rhodes (three).
Specialist U.: Florida
Kickers and punters drafted since 2010: 4
Unlike every other position, many of the greats go undrafted.
But when looking to the draft, Florida stands out for producing two punters (Johnny Townsend and Jeremy Crenshaw) and two kickers (Caleb Sturgis and Evan McPherson).
Miami and Texas A&M are in the hunt with three apiece.
