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Where First Round Picks in 2024 NFL Draft Played in High School

Gonzaga (Washington, DC) and IMG Academy (Florida) made history with an incredible first round at the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit, Michigan. Both schools had two former players picked, making it the first time that’s ever happened in the same draft.

It all got started when quarterback Caleb Williams was taken No. 1 overall by the Chicago Bears. The second former Eagle taken was offensive tackle Olumuyiwa "Olu" Fashanu at No. 11 by the New York Jets.

Williams was considered the No. 1 quarterback prospect in the Class of 2021. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the 5-star college football prospect didn’t play his senior season. However, he was still able to compete at the 2020 Elite 11 quarterback competition, winning the MVP award.

He passed for nearly 4,400 yards during his sophomore and junior seasons with 45 touchdown passes. He also ran for over 1,200 yards with 28 touchdowns.

IMG's two picks were offensive tackle JC Latham going to the Tennessee Titans at No. 7 and quarterback J.J. McCarthy being taken by the Minnesota Vikings at No. 10.

It is believed that it's the highest a pair of players from the same high school have ever been taken in NFL Draft history.

Latham and McCarthy led IMG to the High School Football America national championship in 2020.

The last time two players from the same school were drafted in the first round was in 2019 when the Edmunds brothers from Dan River High School in Virginia heard their names called on opening night. The Buffalo Bills selected linebacker Tremaine Edmunds with the No. 16 pick. Then, the Pittsburgh Steelers chose Edmunds’ brother Terrell, a safety, at No. 28.

This is still the only time that two brothers have been taken in the first round.

Making that 2019 story more interesting was the pair joined their oldest brother Trey Edmunds, who was heading into his second pro season as a running back for the New Orleans Saints.

All three played for their dad Ferrell Edmunds, who made two Pro Bowls while playing tight end for the Miami Dolphins. The elder Edmunds was the head coach of Dan River for 11 seasons, amassing an overall record of 76-45.

Overall, Florida led the way with six former high schoolers picked in Round 1 Thursday night. California was next with four former players, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Texas and DC had two players each. Alabama, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Washington each had one player selected.

Where First Round Picks Played HS Football

Pick

Team

Player

Position

High School 

State

Stars in HS

         

 

 

1

Chicago Bears

Caleb Williams

QB

Gonzaga 

DC

5

2

Washington Commanders

Jayden Daniels

QB

Cajon

CA

4

3

New England Patriots

Drake Maye

QB

Myers Park

NC

5

4

Arizona Cardinals

Marvin Harrison, Jr.

WR

St. Joseph’s Prep

PA

5

5

Los Angeles Chargers

Joe Alt

OT

Totino-Grace

MN

4

6

New York Giants

Malik Nabers

WR

Southside

LA

4

7

Tennessee Titans

JC Latham

OT

IMG Academy

FL

5

8

Atlanta Falcons

Michael Penix, Jr.

QB

Tampa Bay Tech

FL

3

9

Chicago Bears

Rome Odunze

WR

Bishop Gorman

NV

4

10

Minnesota Vikings

J.J. McCarthy

QB

IMG Academy

FL

5

11

New York Jets

Olumuyiwa Fashanu

OT

Gonzaga

DC

3

12

Denver Broncos

Bo Nix

QB

Pinson Valley

AL

4

13

Las Vegas Raiders

Brock Bowers

TE

Napa

CA 

4

14

New Orleans Saints

Taliese Fuaga

OT

Mount Tahoma

WA

3

15

Indianapolis Colts

Laiatu Latu

EDGE

Jesuit

CA

3

16

Seattle Seahawks

Byron Murphy

DT

DeSoto

TX

4

17

Minnesota Vikings

Dallas Turner

EDGE

St. Thomas Aquinas

FL

5

18

Cincinnati Bengals

Amarius Mims

OT

Bleckley County

GA

5

19

Los Angeles Rams

Jared Verse

EDGE

Central Columbia

PA

0

20

Pittsburgh Steelers

Troy Fautanu

G

Liberty

NV

4

21

Miami Dolphins

Chop Robinson

LB

Quince Orchard

MD

5

22

Philadelphia Eagles

Quinyon Mitchell

CB

Williston

FL

3

23

Jacksonville Jaguars

Brian Thomas, Jr.

WR

Walker

LA

4

24

Detroit Lions

Terrion Arnold

CB

John Paul II Catholic 

FL

5

25

Green Bay Packers

Jordan Morgan

OT

Marana

AZ

3

26

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Graham Barton

C

Ravenwood

TN

3

27

Arizona Cardinals

Darius Robinson

EDGE

Canton

MI

3

28

Kansas City Chiefs

Xavier Worthy

WR

Central East

CA

4

29

Dallas Cowboys

Tyler Guyton

OT

Manor

TX 

3

30

Baltimore Ravens

Nate Wiggins

CB

Westlake 

GA

4

31

San Francisco 49ers

Ricky Pearsall

WR

Corona del Sol

AZ

3

32

Carolina Panthers

Xavier Legette

WR

Mullins

SC

4

 

Tags

  • High School Football
  • NFL Players and Legends