A Dissertation on the Representation of NCAA Teams in the NFL –OR– What Makes Up an NFL Roster?

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Preface/Disclaimer:

All of this data is based on the rosters listed on ESPN.

The average NFL team has approximately 63 players listed on their roster on the ESPN page (varying from the Vikings having 55 to the Bills having 73).  Now, this is clearly more than the NFL limit of 53 players on the active roster, so the numbers in the rest of this diary won’t be 100% correct, but they are based on what ESPN says.  Additionally, there were a few quirks in the positional listings, such as occasionally having OL listed, instead of OT or G.  In one of the analyses I did, I just changed all listings of OL to OT (because I was lazy), but in another I looked up the few players that were different.  This could result in some error.

 

In case anyone wants to toy around with anything I’ve worked on, I have all of my spreadsheets uploaded here:

http://sharebee.com/7880bf69

 

WARNING: Wall of text and data ahead.  I thought about breaking this up into multiple parts, but decided against it.

Other warning, some of the charts at the end are a bit on the large side and may leak over into the sidebar.

 

 

 Ranking the top 50 colleges by their number of players in the NFL.

Rank	COLLEGE	Total
1	Texas	42
2	Louisiana State	41
3	Miami (Fla.)	40
4	USC	39
	Georgia	39
6	Ohio State	37
7	Tennessee	36
8	Nebraska	34
9	Michigan	33
10	Florida State	32
	Florida	32
12	Notre Dame	30
	California	30
14	Oklahoma	29
	Auburn	29
16	Iowa	28
17	Penn State	27
18	Purdue	26
	Louisville	26
20	Virginia Tech	25
	Virginia	25
	North Carolina	25
23	Oregon	24
	Michigan State	24
	Maryland	24
	Boston College	24
	Alabama	24
28	Texas A&M	22
	Oregon State	22
	Georgia Tech	22
31	Wisconsin	21
	Pittsburgh	21
	Illinois	21
34	South Carolina	20
	Rutgers	20
	North Carolina State	20
	Mississippi State	20
	Mississippi	20
39	UCLA	18
	Kansas State	18
	Colorado	18
	Arizona	18
43	San Diego State	17
	Fresno State	17
	Clemson	17
	Arkansas	17
	Arizona State	17
48	Washington State	16
	Utah	16
50	Wake Forest	15
	Central Florida	15
	Brigham Young	15

 

Top Schools by Position:

(# from – school from)

Centers: 4 – California, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Texas A&M

Cornerbacks: 7 – Ohio State, 6 – Auburn, South Carolina, 5 – Michigan, Pittsburgh, Texas

Defensive Ends: 8 – Georgia, 7 – Florida, 5 – North Carolina

Defensive Tackles: 6 – Texas, Texas A&M, 5 – Florida State, Miami (Fla.), Michigan State, Tennessee

Fullbacks: 2 – Alabama, West Virginia

Guards: 5 – LSU, 4 – Iowa, Nebraska

Linebackers: 8 – Miami (Fla.), Ohio State, USC, 7 – Michigan, Nebraska, Purdue

Offensive Tackles: 5 – Boston College, Florida State, 4 – Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas, Virginia

Punters: 2 – Ball State, Notre Dame, Tennessee

Place Kickers: 2 – Florida State, Louisiana Tech, Nebraska, North Carolina, Texas, Washington State

Quarterbacks: 4 – USC, 3 – Boston College, Fresno State, Louisville, Michigan, Oregon, Purdue

Running Backs: 4 – Georgia, Texas, USC, Virginia

Safeties: 5 – LSU, 4 – Clemson, Georgia Tech, Miami (Fla.), Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, Washington State

Tight Ends: 5 – Virginia, 3 – Arizona State, California, Colorado, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Iowa, Maryland, Miami (Fla.), Notre Dame, Penn State, Texas

Wide Receivers: 8 – Ohio State, 6 – LSU, Miami (Fla.), Virginia Tech, 5 – North Carolina, Oklahoma

 

 

The Eagles have 5 players from Georgia, and the Chiefs have 5 players from LSU.  No other NFL team has as many players from a single school.

 

The average NFL team has (listed on their ESPN roster):

Centers: 3.063, Giants and Jets only have one each, Bills have six

Cornerbacks: 6.875, Vikings, Cowboys, Dolphins, and Raiders have only five, Packers have ten

Defensive Ends: 5.344, Ravens only have one, Raiders and Rams have eight

Defensive Tackles: 4.969, Cowboys only have one, Panthers and Ravens have eight

Fullbacks: 1.313, a number of teams have zero, a few have three

Guards: 3.188, Titans, Raiders, and Falcons only have one, Chiefs have six

Linebackers: 8.281, Broncos only have five, Chargers and Patriots have eleven

Offensive Tackles: 4.906, Chiefs only have two, a bunch of teams have seven

Punters: 1.188, Most teams only have one, Buccaneers have three

Place Kickers: 1.188, most teams have one, a few have two

Quarterbacks: 3.25, Jaguars and Packers only have two, Panthers have five

Running Backs: 4.438, it’s pretty evenly spread from three to six

Safeties: 4.563, Chargers and Panthers only have two, Falcons and Texans have seven

Tight Ends: 3.938, Jaguars and Patriots only have two, Bengals and Colts have seven

Wide Receivers: 6.406, a few teams have only five, Buccaneers have nine

 

 

Ranking the FBS conferences by the average number of players that end up in the NFL per team*

 

Conference	AVG # Players/Team	Total # of Players
SEC	24.75	297
Big Ten	22.72727273	250
ACC	22.66666667	272
PAC-10	21	210
Big 12	18.33333333	220
Big East	15	120
MWC	10.625	85
WAC	7.777777778	70
C-USA	6.583333333	79
MAC	5.230769231	68
Sun-Belt	3.444444444	31

 

 

*Note that I did not factor in the service academies, as there is only one player from the any of them playing in the NFL (Kyle Eckel, from Navy).  I assume that is due to the 5 year requirement of being in their corresponding service after graduating.  As such, I also did not include the Independents in the chart, as it would have just been Notre Dame.

 

Ranking the different conferences by position

 

Center:

Conference	AVG/Team	Total #
Big Ten	1.090909091	12
ACC	1.083333333	13
Big 12	1	12
PAC-10	1	10
SEC	0.916666667	11
C-USA	0.75	9
WAC	0.555555556	5
MAC	0.384615385	5
MWC	0.375	3
Big East	0.25	2
Sun-Belt	0	0

 

Cornerback:

Conference	AVG/Team	Total #
SEC	2.75	33
Big East	2.625	21
Big Ten	2.090909091	23
Big 12	2	24
ACC	1.916666667	23
PAC-10	1.7	17
WAC	1.333333333	12
MWC	0.875	7
Sun-Belt	0.777777778	7
C-USA	0.5	6
MAC	0.461538462	6

 

Defensive End:

Conference	AVG/Team	Total #
SEC	2.75	33
Big Ten	1.818181818	20
Big 12	1.75	21
ACC	1.75	21
PAC-10	1.6	16
Big East	1.25	10
MWC	0.75	6
WAC	0.555555556	5
MAC	0.307692308	4
Sun-Belt	0.111111111	1
C-USA	0	0

 

Defensive Tackle:

Conference	AVG/Team	Total #
SEC	2.583333333	31
Big 12	2.25	27
Big Ten	2.181818182	24
ACC	2.166666667	26
PAC-10	1.5	15
Big East	0.75	6
MWC	0.5	4
MAC	0.461538462	6
Sun-Belt	0.333333333	3
C-USA	0.25	3
WAC	0.111111111	1

 

Fullback:

Conference	AVG/Team	Total #
Big East	0.75	6
SEC	0.5	6
PAC-10	0.4	4
ACC	0.333333333	4
Big 12	0.25	3
Sun-Belt	0.222222222	2
Big Ten	0.181818182	2
MWC	0.125	1
WAC	0.111111111	1
C-USA	0.083333333	1
MAC	0.076923077	1

 

Guard:

Conference	AVG/Team	Total #
SEC	1.666666667	20
Big Ten	1.363636364	15
Big 12	1.166666667	14
PAC-10	1	10
Big East	0.875	7
ACC	0.666666667	8
WAC	0.666666667	6
MWC	0.5	4
C-USA	0.25	3
MAC	0.153846154	2
Sun-Belt	0.111111111	1

 

Linebacker:

Conference	AVG/Team	Total #
ACC	3.916666667	47
Big Ten	3.545454545	39
SEC	3.25	39
PAC-10	2.6	26
Big 12	2.166666667	26
Big East	2.125	17
MWC	2.125	17
C-USA	0.75	9
WAC	0.444444444	4
Sun-Belt	0.444444444	4
MAC	0.384615385	5

 

Offensive Tackle:

Conference	AVG/Team	Total #
ACC	2.166666667	26
Big Ten	1.818181818	20
SEC	1.75	21
Big 12	1.416666667	17
MWC	1.375	11
PAC-10	1.1	11
Big East	0.875	7
WAC	0.666666667	6
MAC	0.615384615	8
C-USA	0.583333333	7
Sun-Belt	0.111111111	1

 

Punter:

Conference	AVG/Team	Total #
PAC-10	0.4	4
Big East	0.375	3
Big Ten	0.363636364	4
Big 12	0.333333333	4
MAC	0.307692308	4
SEC	0.25	3
ACC	0.166666667	2
C-USA	0.166666667	2
WAC	0.111111111	1
MWC	0	0
Sun-Belt	0	0

 

Place Kicker:

Conference	AVG/Team	Total #
Big 12	0.583333333	7
ACC	0.5	6
Big Ten	0.454545455	5
PAC-10	0.4	4
WAC	0.333333333	3
Big East	0.25	2
SEC	0.166666667	2
C-USA	0.166666667	2
Sun-Belt	0.111111111	1
MAC	0.076923077	1
MWC	0	0

 

Quarterback:

Conference	AVG/Team	Total #
PAC-10	1.5	15
Big Ten	1.181818182	13
Big East	1	8
SEC	0.916666667	11
C-USA	0.75	9
ACC	0.666666667	8
MWC	0.625	5
Big 12	0.583333333	7
WAC	0.555555556	5
MAC	0.384615385	5
Sun-Belt	0.111111111	1

 

Running Back:

Conference	AVG/Team	Total #
Big Ten	1.818181818	20
SEC	1.75	21
PAC-10	1.7	17
Big 12	1.25	15
ACC	1.166666667	14
Big East	1	8
MWC	0.875	7
C-USA	0.583333333	7
MAC	0.307692308	4
WAC	0.222222222	2
Sun-Belt	0.111111111	1

 

Safety:

Conference	AVG/Team	Total #
PAC-10	2.1	21
SEC	2	24
ACC	1.916666667	23
Big Ten	1.363636364	15
Big 12	1	12
Big East	0.75	6
MWC	0.75	6
WAC	0.555555556	5
Sun-Belt	0.555555556	5
C-USA	0.333333333	4
MAC	0.307692308	4

 

Tight End:

Conference	AVG/Team	Total #
ACC	1.833333333	22
PAC-10	1.6	16
Big Ten	1.181818182	13
Big 12	1.166666667	14
SEC	1.083333333	13
Big East	0.875	7
WAC	0.555555556	5
MWC	0.5	4
C-USA	0.5	6
MAC	0.461538462	6
Sun-Belt	0.111111111	1

 

Wide Receiver:

Conference	AVG/Team	Total #
ACC	2.416666667	29
SEC	2.416666667	29
PAC-10	2.3	23
Big Ten	2.272727273	25
Big 12	1.416666667	17
MWC	1.25	10
Big East	1.125	9
WAC	1	9
C-USA	0.916666667	11
MAC	0.538461538	7
Sun-Belt	0.333333333	3

 

Some more data related to individual conferences:

ACC:

Duke has the least players in the NFL of any ACC team, with only three.

The Falcons, Giants, and Texans have more players from the ACC than any other team, with 14 each.  The Packers have the fewest ACC players, with only three.

Big 12:

Kansas has the least players in the NFL of any Big 12 team, with only six.

The Buccaneers have more players from the Big 12 than any other team, with 12.  The Dolphins, Giants, and Raiders have the fewest Big 12 players, with only two each.

Big East:

South Florida has the least players in the NFL of any Big East team, with only six.

The Colts, Eagles, Jaguars, and Panthers have more players from the Big East than any other team, with 7 each.  The Bears, Browns, Chiefs, Redskins, and Vikings each only have one Big East player.
Big Ten:

Indiana has the least players in the NFL of any Big Ten team, with nine.

The Jets have more players from the Big Ten than any other team, with 13.  The Eagles have the fewest Big Ten players, with only one.

C-USA:

Southern Methodist and UAB are tied for the least players in the NFL of any C-USA team, with only two each.

The Raiders have more players from C-USA than any other team, with six.  The Cowboys, Redskins, and Seahawks all have no players from C-USA.

MAC:

Buffalo has the least players in the NFL of any MAC team, with only two.

The Lions have more players from the MAC than any other team, with five.  The Cardinals, Jets, Redskins, and Seahawks all have no MAC players.

MWC:

Ignoring the Air Force’s zero, UNLV has the least players in the MWC with three.

The Texans have more players from the MWC than any other team, with eight.  The Broncos, Chiefs, Falcons, Patriots, and Titans all have zero MWC players.

PAC-10:

Stanford and Washington have the least players in the NFL of any PAC-10 team, with 13.

The Seahawks have more players from the PAC-10 than any other team, with 14.  The Broncos and Dolphins have the fewest PAC-10 players, with only three each.

SEC:

Kentucky has the least players in the NFL of any SEC team, with only seven.

The Chiefs have more players from the SEC than any other team, with 16.  The Giants have the fewest SEC players, with five.

Sun-Belt:

FAU has zero players in the NFL.

The Falcons, Giants, and Panthers have more players from the Sun-Belt than any other team, with three each.  Thirteen NFL teams have zero Sun-Belt players.

WAC:

New Mexico State has the least players in the NFL of any WAC team, with only two.

The Redskins, Packers, and Jaguars have more players from the WAC than any other team, with five each.  The Bengals, Chiefs, Lions, Steelers, and Texans all have no WAC players.

I also compiled a list of the all of the players in the NFL from Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Ohio State:

	Michigan
33	Team
15	Offense
3	QB	Tom Brady	Chad Henne	Todd Collins
1	RB	Mike Hart
0	FB	----
4	WR	Braylon Edwards	Steve Breaston	Jason Avant	Mario Manningham
0	TE	----
4	OT	Jake Long	Jeff Backus	Jon Runyan	Jon Jansen
3	G	Steve Hutchinson	David Baas	Jonathan Goodwin
0	C	----
17	Defense
2	DT	Alan Branch	Gabe Watson
2	DE	James Hall	Tim Jamison
7	LB	David Harris	Dhani Jones	Prescott Burgess	Shawn Crable	Larry Foote	LaMarr Woodley	Pierre Woods
5	CB	Charles Woodson	Ty Law	Marlin Jackson	Leon Hall	Morgan Trent
1	S	Jamar Adams
1	Special Teams
1	PK	Jay Feely
0	P	----

 

 

	Michigan State
24	Team
12	Offense
2	QB	Drew Stanton	Brian Hoyer
1	RB	Javon Ringer
0	FB	----
3	WR	Devin Thomas	Derrick Mason	Muhsin Muhammad
2	TE	Kellen Davis	Chris Baker
2	OT	Flozell Adams	Peter Clifford
0	G	----
2	C	Kyle Cook	Chris Morris
11	Defense
5	DT	Ogemdi Nwagbuo	Clifton Ryan	Brandon McKinney	Domata Peko	Kevin Vickerson
2	DE	Ervin Baldwin	Robaire Smith
2	LB	David Herron	Julian Peterson
0	CB	----
2	S	Eric Smith	Renaldo Hill
1	Special Teams
0	PK	----
1	P	Brandon Fields

 

 

	Notre Dame
30	Team
16	Offense
1	QB	Brady Quinn
2	RB	Ryan Grant	Julius Jones
0	FB	----
2	WR	Maurice Stovall	Arnaz Battle
3	TE	John Carlson	Anthony Fasano	John Owens
4	OT	Mark LeVoir	Ryan Harris	Jordan Black	Mike Gandy
0	G	----
4	C	John Sullivan	J.J. Jansen	Dan Santucci	Jeff Faine
12	Defense
2	DT	Trevor Laws	Derek Landri
4	DE	Victor Abiamiri	Justin Tuck	Bertrand Berry	Renaldo Wynn
2	LB	Corey Mays	Rocky Boiman
1	CB	Mike Richardson
3	S	Tom Zbikowski	Chinedum Ndukwe	David Bruton
2	Special Teams
0	PK	----
2	P	Hunter Smith	Craig Hentrich

 

 

	Ohio State
37	Team
15	Offense
1	QB	Troy Smith
1	RB	Beanie Wells
0	FB	----
8	WR	Ted Ginn Jr.	Anthony Gonzalez	Roy Hall	Santonio Holmes	Michael Jenkins	Joey Galloway	Brian Hartline	Brian Robiskie
1	TE	Ben Hartsock
1	OT	Orlando Pace
1	G	Rob Sims
2	C	Nick Mangold	Kevin Houser
22	Defense
1	DT	Ryan Pickett
3	DE	Jay Richardson	Will Smith	Kenny Peterson
8	LB	Larry Grant	Vernon Gholston	Bobby Carpenter	A.J. Hawk	Matt Wilhelm	Na'il Diggs	Mike Vrabel	James Laurinaitis
7	CB	Ashton Youboty	Chris Gamble	Nate Clements	Antoine Winfield	Shawn Springs	Donald Washington	Malcolm Jenkins
3	S	Donte Whitner	Will Allen	Donnie Nickey
0	Special Teams
0	PK	----
0	P	----

 

 

 

So there you have it.  A whole mess of data about things you may or may not have been curious about.  And to think that I originally only wanted to compile the list of Michigan players in the NFL...