UAB Blazers' highest NFL draft picks since 1970

While most colleges and universities field a football team as part of its general athletics program, there are some for which football is more than merely a sport—it's akin almost to a religion. Devotion to the team and its colors is as important to that school's culture as a religious icon is to a believer. These programs actively scout and recruit notable high school players, and are in turn rigorously applied to by matriculating seniors eager to make a name for themselves at the collegiate level.

Among the most notable college football empires are Notre Dame, the universities of Alabama, Michigan, Texas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, Penn State, Ohio State—the list goes on and on.

But for every touchstone football school, there is an outlier that has produced some of the most successful and cherished players in the game. Think Jackson State, which gave us "Sweetness" himself, Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton. Or Mississippi Valley State, which yielded 3-time Super Bowl champion and #1 Player in NFL History, as voted by the NFL Network, '49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice.

Each year, the college draft serves as a source of renewal to professional football and a testament to the quality of college programs nationwide. With the 2022 NFL draft set to take place April 28-30 in Las Vegas, Stacker compiled a list of the highest NFL draft picks from the UAB Blazers using data from Pro Football Reference. Ties were broken by the most recent year drafted.

#13. Pernell Davis (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 7, #251 overall in 1999
- Drafted by: Philadelphia Eagles
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#12. Rodregis Brooks (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 7, #238 overall in 2000
- Drafted by: Indianapolis Colts
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#11. Kennard Backman (TE)
- Draft pick: Round 6, #213 overall in 2015
- Drafted by: Green Bay Packers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#10. Matt McCants (T)
- Draft pick: Round 6, #201 overall in 2012
- Drafted by: NY Giants
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#9. Joe Webb (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 6, #199 overall in 2010
- Drafted by: Minnesota Vikings
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#8. Izell Reese (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 6, #188 overall in 1998
- Drafted by: Dallas Cowboys
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#7. Otis Leverette (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 6, #187 overall in 2001
- Drafted by: Miami Dolphins
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#6. JJ Nelson (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 5, #159 overall in 2015
- Drafted by: Arizona Cardinals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#5. Jordan Smith (OLB)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #121 overall in 2021
- Drafted by: Jacksonville Jaguars
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#4. Dainon Sidney (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #77 overall in 1998
- Drafted by: Tennessee Titans
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#3. Eddie Freeman (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #43 overall in 2002
- Drafted by: Kansas City Chiefs
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#2. Roddy White (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #27 overall in 2005
- Drafted by: Atlanta Falcons
- Years as a starter in NFL: 10 (4 Pro Bowls)

#1. Bryan Thomas (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #22 overall in 2002
- Drafted by: NY Jets
- Years as a starter in NFL: 7 (0 Pro Bowls)