UCF Knights' 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 UCF Knights using data from Pro Football Reference. Ties were broken by the most recent year drafted.

#20. Paul Miranda (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #96 overall in 1999
- Drafted by: Indianapolis Colts
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#19. Tre'Quan Smith (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #91 overall in 2018
- Drafted by: New Orleans Saints
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#18. Shaquill Griffin (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #90 overall in 2017
- Drafted by: Seattle Seahawks
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (1 Pro Bowls)

#17. Jah Reid (T)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #85 overall in 2011
- Drafted by: Baltimore Ravens
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#16. Mike Sims-Walker (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #79 overall in 2007
- Drafted by: Jacksonville Jaguars
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#15. Greg Jefferson (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #72 overall in 1995
- Drafted by: Philadelphia Eagles
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#14. Aaron Robinson (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #71 overall in 2021
- Drafted by: NY Giants
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#13. Rick Hamilton (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #71 overall in 1993
- Drafted by: Washington Football Team
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#12. Josh Robinson (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #66 overall in 2012
- Drafted by: Minnesota Vikings
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#11. Bob Spitulski (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #66 overall in 1992
- Drafted by: Seattle Seahawks
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#10. Bernard Ford (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #65 overall in 1988
- Drafted by: Buffalo Bills
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#9. Kevin Smith (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #64 overall in 2008
- Drafted by: Detroit Lions
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#8. Travis Fisher (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #64 overall in 2002
- Drafted by: St. Louis Rams
- Years as a starter in NFL: 6 (0 Pro Bowls)

#7. Trysten Hill (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #58 overall in 2019
- Drafted by: Dallas Cowboys
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#6. Torell Troup (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #41 overall in 2010
- Drafted by: Buffalo Bills
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#5. Richie Grant (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #40 overall in 2021
- Drafted by: Atlanta Falcons
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#4. Mike Hughes (CB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #30 overall in 2018
- Drafted by: Minnesota Vikings
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#3. Breshad Perriman (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #26 overall in 2015
- Drafted by: Baltimore Ravens
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#2. Daunte Culpepper (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #11 overall in 1999
- Drafted by: Minnesota Vikings
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (3 Pro Bowls)

#1. Blake Bortles (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #3 overall in 2014
- Drafted by: Jacksonville Jaguars
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (0 Pro Bowls)