Colorado State Rams' 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 Colorado State Rams using data from Pro Football Reference. Ties were broken by the most recent year drafted.

#20. Keli McGregor (TE)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #110 overall in 1985
- Drafted by: Denver Broncos
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#19. Mark Bell (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #102 overall in 1979
- Drafted by: Seattle Seahawks
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#18. Crockett Gillmore (TE)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #99 overall in 2014
- Drafted by: Baltimore Ravens
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#17. Perry Smith (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #92 overall in 1973
- Drafted by: Oakland Raiders
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#16. Michael Gallup (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #81 overall in 2018
- Drafted by: Dallas Cowboys
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#15. Linden King (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #77 overall in 1977
- Drafted by: San Diego Chargers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 8 (0 Pro Bowls)

#14. Garrett Grayson (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #75 overall in 2015
- Drafted by: New Orleans Saints
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#13. Joey Porter (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #73 overall in 1999
- Drafted by: Pittsburgh Steelers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 11 (4 Pro Bowls)

#12. Jim White (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #73 overall in 1972
- Drafted by: New England Patriots
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#11. Brady Smith (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #70 overall in 1996
- Drafted by: New Orleans Saints
- Years as a starter in NFL: 6 (0 Pro Bowls)

#10. Lawrence McCutcheon (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #70 overall in 1972
- Drafted by: Los Angeles Rams
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (5 Pro Bowls)

#9. Terry Unrein (NT)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #66 overall in 1986
- Drafted by: San Diego Chargers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#8. Ty Sambrailo (T)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #59 overall in 2015
- Drafted by: Denver Broncos
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#7. Weston Richburg (OL)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #43 overall in 2014
- Drafted by: NY Giants
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (0 Pro Bowls)

#6. Al Baker (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #40 overall in 1978
- Drafted by: Detroit Lions
- Years as a starter in NFL: 11 (3 Pro Bowls)

#5. Al Simpson (G)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #27 overall in 1975
- Drafted by: NY Giants
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#4. Kevin McLain (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #26 overall in 1976
- Drafted by: Los Angeles Rams
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#3. Mark Mullaney (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #25 overall in 1975
- Drafted by: Minnesota Vikings
- Years as a starter in NFL: 8 (0 Pro Bowls)

#2. Kelly Stouffer (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #6 overall in 1987
- Drafted by: St. Louis Rams
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#1. Mike Bell (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #2 overall in 1979
- Drafted by: Kansas City Chiefs
- Years as a starter in NFL: 7 (0 Pro Bowls)