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It's not news that football is the national pastime of America. There's barely anyone who wouldn't have dreamt of playing in the NFL as a kid. And why wouldn't you, being a professional footballer comes with its share of perks.
It's only fair that this immense love for the sport has trickled down to the roots with schools and colleges developing lucrative programs to attract and nurture the best talent in the country. However, it's easier said than done when it comes to making it big in the NFL. Years and years of hard work and the grit to perform during the big stages is a must.
Finally, there is the NFL Draft which basically decides the future of any particular talent. While skills and dexterity are important facets, there are several colleges whose football regimes have helped many athletes realize their dream of playing in the NFL.
With the 2019 NFL Draft just hours away, let us have a look at the top 5 colleges with the most NFL players in history:
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#5 Penn State University - 393 players
The Pennsylvania State University has had quite the history having played 125 years of college football. Playing in the Big 10 Conference of the NCAA Division I, the Penn State Nittany Lions managed to reach the Citrus Bowl last year before losing out to Kentucky.
Penn State gave us star running back Saquon Barkley who was drafted by the New York Giants in last year's draft. The college boasts of 6 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees and currently has 34 players plying their trade actively in the NFL.
Some of the most notable Penn State players include Jack Ham, Lenny Moore and Matt Bahr. The Nittany Lions have won a total of 7 NCAA Championships so far.
#4 University of Michigan - 394 players
The university that gave the world 6-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady ranks fourth on this list. The Michigan Wolverines have as many as 3 Heisman Trophy winners and ended their 2018 season at the Peach Bowl after being overcome by Florida in a one-sided affair.
Having 11 claimed national championships over 129 years of footballing history, the Wolverines currently boast of 37 active players in the NFL. They have also had as many as 7 athletes inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
#3 Ohio State University - 479 players
Ohio State University is represented by the Ohio State Buckeyes in the NCAA Division I. The 2018 Big 10 Conference champs were only the sixth ranked team last season and were thus ineligible to play in the college football playoffs.
As of now, the Buckeyes have as many as 50 active players across rosters of NFL teams. They have also had eight of their former students inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Ohio State won their last championship back in 2014 and have claimed a total of eight of the same.
Defensive end Nick Bosa is a top prospect for the 2019 NFL Draft with many expecting the San Francisco 49ers to scoop him up with the second overall pick.
#2 University of Southern California - 521 players
The University of Southern California is represented by the Trojans in NCAA Division I. The Pac-12 Conference program endured its first losing season since 2000 after they finished 5-7 in 2019. However, this poor record is no real indicator of the history of the USC Trojans who have won 17 national championships.
USC has had a total of 7 Heisman Trophy winners and currently boasts of 44 active players in the NFL. They also have a total of 12 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees. The likes of Marcus Allen, Bruce Mathews, and Reggie Bush all went on to achieve great heights in the NFL after representing the Trojans.
#1 University of Notre Dame - 582 players
One of the six colleges that play as an Independent in the NCAA Division I, Notre Dame finished with an unbeaten 12-0 record during the regular season in 2018. Finishing as the 3rd best team in the CFP rankings, the Fighting Irish did qualify for the playoff semifinals. However, they were mauled 3-30 by the Clemson Tigers in the Cotton Bowl.
Notre Dame has won as many as 11 claimed national championship in the history of the program. Currently, they have 35 players playing actively in the NFL. A total of 13 Notre Dame athletes have been inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
