Air Force Falcons' 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 Air Force Falcons using data from Pro Football Reference. Ties were broken by the most recent year drafted.

#4. Chad Hennings (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 11, #290 overall in 1988
- Drafted by: Dallas Cowboys
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (0 Pro Bowls)

#3. Austin Cutting (LS)
- Draft pick: Round 7, #250 overall in 2019
- Drafted by: Minnesota Vikings
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#2. Bryce Fisher (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 7, #248 overall in 1999
- Drafted by: Buffalo Bills
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#1. Steve Russ (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 7, #218 overall in 1995
- Drafted by: Denver Broncos
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0