South Florida Bulls' 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 South Florida Bulls using data from Pro Football Reference. Ties were broken by the most recent year drafted.

#20. Mistral Raymond (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 6, #170 overall in 2011
- Drafted by: Minnesota Vikings
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#19. Rodney Adams (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 5, #170 overall in 2017
- Drafted by: Minnesota Vikings
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#18. Trae Williams (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 5, #159 overall in 2008
- Drafted by: Jacksonville Jaguars
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#17. Aaron Lynch (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 5, #150 overall in 2014
- Drafted by: San Francisco 49ers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#16. Marlon Mack (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #143 overall in 2017
- Drafted by: Indianapolis Colts
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#15. Shurron Pierson (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #129 overall in 2003
- Drafted by: Oakland Raiders
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#14. J.R. Reed (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #129 overall in 2004
- Drafted by: Philadelphia Eagles
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#13. Stephen Nicholas (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #109 overall in 2007
- Drafted by: Atlanta Falcons
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (0 Pro Bowls)

#12. Bill Gramatica (K)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #98 overall in 2001
- Drafted by: Arizona Cardinals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#11. Anthony Henry (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #97 overall in 2001
- Drafted by: Cleveland Browns
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (0 Pro Bowls)

#10. Tyrone McKenzie (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #97 overall in 2009
- Drafted by: New England Patriots
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#9. Kenyatta Jones (T)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #96 overall in 2001
- Drafted by: New England Patriots
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#8. Kayvon Webster (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #90 overall in 2013
- Drafted by: Denver Broncos
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#7. Deadrin Senat (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #90 overall in 2018
- Drafted by: Atlanta Falcons
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#6. Terrell McClain (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #65 overall in 2011
- Drafted by: Carolina Panthers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#5. Jerome Murphy (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #65 overall in 2010
- Drafted by: St. Louis Rams
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#4. Kawika Mitchell (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #47 overall in 2003
- Drafted by: Kansas City Chiefs
- Years as a starter in NFL: 6 (0 Pro Bowls)

#3. Nate Allen (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #37 overall in 2010
- Drafted by: Philadelphia Eagles
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (0 Pro Bowls)

#2. Mike Jenkins (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #25 overall in 2008
- Drafted by: Dallas Cowboys
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (1 Pro Bowls)

#1. Jason Pierre-Paul (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #15 overall in 2010
- Drafted by: NY Giants
- Years as a starter in NFL: 10 (3 Pro Bowls)