Where Every Number One NFL Draft Pick Went to High School
Texas high schools have produced more No. 1 overall picks in the NFL Draft than any other state.
Since the first NFL Draft in 1936, Texas has had the most overall No. 1 draft picks. Sixteen Texas high school graduates have been picked first overall, starting with center Ki Aldrich of Temple High School in the 1939 NFL Draft.
From 2017 and 2019, three consecutive former Texas high schoolers were picked No. 1 — Arlington Martin High School defensive end Myles Garrett (Cleveland Browns), Lake Travis quarterback Baker Mayfield (Browns), and Allen High quarterback Kyler Murray (Arizona Cardinals).
California high school grads have been selected first overall 13 times, including 2023 top pick Bryce Young. Alabama high schools have produced seven top picks.
Two of the past three number one picks, DE Travon Walker and QB Trevor Lawrence, were the fourth and fifth Georgia high school players to be selected first overall.
State-by-State NFL Overall No. 1 Draft Picks
- Texas - 16
- California - 13
- Alabama - 7
- Ohio - 6
- Louisiana, Georgia - 5
- New York, Oklahoma - 4
- Indiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia - 3
- Kentucky, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington - 2
- Colorado, Florida, Kansas, New Jersey, Oregon, West Virginia, Wisconsin - 1
There have been two high schools with two No. 1 picks.
San Antonio’s Thomas Jefferson High has two top picks — Tommy Nobis in 1965 and Kyle Rote in 1951. More recently, Isadore Newman in Louisiana also had two top picks — Peyton and Eli Manning, respectively selected by the Indianapolis Colts in 1998 and the New York Giants in 2004.
Peyton Manning is one of 15 former No. 1 picks to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Below is the complete list of where former overall No. 1 draft picks played high school football.
No. 1 Overall Picks in the NFL and AFL Drafts
*Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
|
Year |
Player |
Pos. |
High School |
NFL Team |
|
2023 |
Bryce Young |
QB |
Mater Dei (California) |
Carolina Panthers |
|
2022 |
Travon Walker |
DE |
Upson-Lee (Georgia) |
Jacksonville Jaguars |
|
2021 |
Trevor Lawrence |
QB |
Cartersville (Georgia) |
Jacksonville Jaguars |
|
2020 |
Joe Burrow |
QB |
Athens (Ohio) |
Cincinnati Bengals |
|
2019 |
Kyler Murray |
QB |
Allen (TX) |
Arizona Cardinals |
|
2018 |
Baker Mayfield |
QB |
Lake Travis (TX) |
Cleveland Browns |
|
2017 |
Myles Garrett |
DE |
Arlington Martin (TX) |
Cleveland Browns |
|
2016 |
Jared Goff |
QB |
Marin Catholic (CA) |
Los Angeles Rams |
|
2015 |
Jameis Winston |
QB |
Hueytown (AL) |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
|
2014 |
Jadeveon Clowney |
DE |
South Pointe (SC) |
Houston Texans |
|
2013 |
Eric Fisher |
OT |
Stoney Creek (MI) |
Kansas City Chiefs |
|
2012 |
Andrew Luck |
QB |
Stratford (TX) |
Indianapolis Colts |
|
2011 |
Cam Newton |
QB |
Westlake (GA) |
Carolina Panthers |
|
2010 |
Sam Bradford |
QB |
Putnam City North (OK) |
St. Louis Rams |
|
2009 |
Matthew Stafford |
QB |
Highland Park (TX) |
Detroit Lions |
|
2008 |
Jake Long |
OT |
Lapeer North (MI) |
Miami Dolphins |
|
2007 |
JaMarcus Russell |
QB |
Williamson (AL) |
Oakland Raiders |
|
2006 |
Mario Williams |
DE |
Richlands (NC) |
Houston Texans |
|
2005 |
Alex Smith |
QB |
Helix (CA) |
San Francisco 49ers |
|
2004 |
Eli Manning |
QB |
Isadore Newman (LA) |
San Diego Chargers |
|
2003 |
Carson Palmer |
QB |
Santa Margarita (CA) |
Cincinnati Bengals |
|
2002 |
David Carr |
QB |
Clements (TX) |
Houston Texans |
|
2001 |
Michael Vick |
QB |
Ferguson (VA) |
Atlanta Falcons |
|
2000 |
Courtney Brown |
DE |
Macdeonia (SC) |
Cleveland Browns |
|
1999 |
Tim Couch |
QB |
Leslie County (KY) |
Cleveland Browns |
|
1998 |
*Peyton Manning |
QB |
Isadore Newman (LA) |
Indianapolis Colts |
|
1997 |
*Orlando Pace |
OT |
Sandusky (OH) |
St. Louis Rams |
|
1996 |
Keyshawn Johnson |
WR |
Dorsey (CA) |
New York Jets |
|
1995 |
Ki-Jana Carter |
RB |
Westerville South (OH) |
Cincinnati Bengals |
|
1994 |
Dan Wilkinson |
DT |
Dunbar (OH) |
Cincinnati Bengals |
|
1993 |
Drew Bledsoe |
QB |
Walla Walla (WA) |
New England Patriots |
|
1992 |
Steve Emtman |
DT |
Cheney (WA) |
Indianapolis Colts |
|
1991 |
Russell Maryland |
DT |
Whitney Young (IL) |
Dallas Cowboys |
|
1990 |
Jeff George |
QB |
Warren Central (IN) |
Indianapolis Colts |
|
1989 |
*Troy Aikman |
QB |
Henryetta (OK) |
Dallas Cowboys |
|
1988 |
Aundray Bruce |
LB |
Carver (Montgomery, AL) |
Atlanta Falcons |
|
1987 |
Vinny Testaverde |
QB |
Sewankaka (NY) |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
|
1986 |
Bo Jackson |
RB |
McAdory (AL) |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
|
1985 |
Bruce Smith |
DE |
Booker T. Washington (VA) |
Buffalo Bills |
|
1984 |
Irving Fryar |
WR |
Rancocas Valley (NJ) |
New England Patriots |
|
1983 |
*John Elway |
QB |
Granada Hills (CA) |
Baltimore Colts |
|
1982 |
Kenneth Sims |
DT |
Groesbeck (TX) |
New England Patriots |
|
1981 |
George Rogers |
RB |
Duluth (GA) |
New Orleans Saints |
|
1980 |
Bill Sims |
RB |
Hooks (TX) |
Detroit Lions |
|
1979 |
Tom Cousineau |
LB |
St. Edward (OH) |
Buffalo Bills |
|
1978 |
*Earl Campbell |
RB |
John Tyler (TX) |
Houston Oilers |
|
1977 |
Ricky Bell |
RB |
Fremont (CA) |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
|
1976 |
*Lee Roy Selmon |
DE |
Eufaula (OK) |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
|
1975 |
Steve Bartkowski |
QB |
Buchser (CA) |
Atlanta Falcons |
|
1974 |
Ed 'Too Tall' Jones |
DE |
Jackson Central Merry (TN) |
Dallas Cowboys |
|
1973 |
John Matuszak |
DE |
Oak Creek (WI) |
Houston Oilers |
|
1972 |
Walt Patulski |
DT |
Christian Brothers Academy (NY) |
Buffalo Bills |
|
1971 |
Jim Plunkett |
QB |
James Lick (CA) |
New England Patriots |
|
1970 |
*Terry Bradshaw |
QB |
Woodlawn (LA) |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
|
1969 |
*O.J. Simpson |
RB |
Galileo (CA) |
Buffalo Bills |
|
1968 |
*Ron Yary |
OT |
Bellflower (CA) |
Minnesota Vikings |
|
1967 |
Bubba Smith |
DE |
Charlton-Pollard (TX) |
Baltimore Colts |
|
1966 |
Jim Grabowski |
RB |
Taft (IL) |
Miami Dolphins (AFL) |
|
1966 |
Tommy Nobis |
LB |
Thomas Jefferson (San Antonio, TX) |
Atlanta Falcons (NFL) |
|
1965 |
Lawrence Elkins |
WR |
Brownwood (TX) |
Houston Oilers (AFL) |
|
1965 |
Tucker Frederickson |
RB |
South Broward (FL) |
New York Giants (NFL) |
|
1964 |
Jack Concannon |
QB |
Matignon (MA) |
Boston Patriots (AFL) |
|
1964 |
Dave Parks |
WR |
Abilene (TX) |
San Francisco 49ers (NFL) |
|
1963 |
*Buck Buchanan |
DT |
Parker (Birmingham, AL) |
Kansas City Chiefs (AFL) |
|
1963 |
Terry Baker |
QB |
Jefferson (OR) |
Los Angeles Rams (NFL) |
|
1962 |
Roman Gabriel |
QB |
New Hanover (NC) |
Oakland Raiders (AFL) |
|
1962 |
Ernie Davis |
RB |
Elmire Free Academy (NY) |
Washington Redskins (NFL) |
|
1961 |
Ken Rice |
G |
Bainbridge (GA) |
Buffalo Bills (AFL) |
|
1961 |
Tommy Mason |
RB |
Lake Charles (LA) |
Minnesota Vikings (NFL) |
|
1960 |
Billy Cannon |
RB |
Istrouma (LA) |
Los Angeles Rams |
|
1959 |
Randy Duncan |
QB |
Roosevelt (Des Moines, IA) |
Green Bay Packers |
|
1958 |
King Hill |
QB |
Brazosport (TX) |
Chicago Cardinals |
|
1957 |
*Paul Hornung |
HB |
Flaget (Louisville, KY) |
Green Bay Packers |
|
1956 |
Gary Glick |
DB |
Cache La Poudre (CO) |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
|
1955 |
George Shaw |
QB |
Denton (TX) |
Baltimore Colts |
|
1954 |
Bobby Garrett |
QB |
South Pasadena (CA) |
Cleveland Browns |
|
1953 |
Harry Babcock |
E |
Pearl River (NY) |
San Francisco 49ers |
|
1952 |
Bill Wade |
QB |
Montgomery Bell Academy (TN) |
Los Angeles Rams |
|
1951 |
Kyle Rote |
HB |
Thomas Jefferson (San Antonio, TX) |
New York Giants |
|
1950 |
Leon Hart |
E |
Turtle Creek (PA) |
Detroit Lions |
|
1949 |
*Chuck Bednarik |
C/LB |
Bethlehem Liberty (PA) |
Philadelphia Eagles |
|
1948 |
Harry Gilmer |
QB |
Woodlawn (AL) |
Washington Redskins |
|
1947 |
Bob Fenimore |
HB |
Woodward (OK) |
Chicago Bears |
|
1946 |
Frank Dancewicz |
QB |
Lynn Classical (MA) |
Boston Yanks |
|
1945 |
*Charley Trippi |
HB |
Pittston (PA) |
Chicago Cardinals |
|
1944 |
Angelo Bertelli |
QB |
Springfield Catholic (MA) |
Boston Yanks |
|
1943 |
Frank Sinkwich |
HB |
Chaney (Youngstown, OH) |
Detroit Lions |
|
1942 |
*Bill Dudley |
HB |
Graham HS (Bluefield, VA) |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
|
1941 |
Tom Harmon |
HB |
Mann (IN) |
Chicago Bears |
|
1940 |
George Cafego |
HB |
Oak Hill (WV) |
Chicago Cardinals |
|
1939 |
Ki Aldrich |
C |
Temple (TX) |
Chicago Cardinals |
|
1938 |
Corbett Davis |
FB |
Lowell (IN) |
Cleveland Rams |
|
1937 |
Sam Francis |
FB |
Decatur County (KS) |
Philadelphia Eagles |
|
1936 |
Jay Berwanger |
HB |
Dubuque (IA) |
Philadelphia Eagles |
Photo: AP/Perry Knotts
Tags
- High School Football
- NFL Players and Legends
