Illinois Fighting Illini's 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 Illinois Fighting Illini using data from Pro Football Reference. Ties were broken by the most recent year drafted.

#20. Tavon Wilson (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #48 overall in 2012
- Drafted by: New England Patriots
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#19. Jack Trudeau (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #47 overall in 1986
- Drafted by: Indianapolis Colts
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#18. Jeff Allen (T)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #44 overall in 2012
- Drafted by: Kansas City Chiefs
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (0 Pro Bowls)

#17. Jihad Ward (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #44 overall in 2016
- Drafted by: Oakland Raiders
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#16. Arrelious Benn (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #39 overall in 2010
- Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#15. Robert Holcombe (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #37 overall in 1998
- Drafted by: St. Louis Rams
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#14. Eugene Wilson (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #36 overall in 2003
- Drafted by: New England Patriots
- Years as a starter in NFL: 6 (0 Pro Bowls)

#13. Jack Squirek (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #35 overall in 1982
- Drafted by: Los Angeles Raiders
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#12. A.J. Jenkins (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #30 overall in 2012
- Drafted by: San Francisco 49ers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#11. Henry Jones (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #26 overall in 1991
- Drafted by: Buffalo Bills
- Years as a starter in NFL: 8 (1 Pro Bowls)

#10. Whitney Mercilus (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #26 overall in 2012
- Drafted by: Houston Texans
- Years as a starter in NFL: 8 (0 Pro Bowls)

#9. Scott Davis (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #25 overall in 1988
- Drafted by: Los Angeles Raiders
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#8. Vontae Davis (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #25 overall in 2009
- Drafted by: Miami Dolphins
- Years as a starter in NFL: 8 (2 Pro Bowls)

#7. Rashard Mendenhall (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #23 overall in 2008
- Drafted by: Pittsburgh Steelers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (0 Pro Bowls)

#6. Corey Liuget (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #18 overall in 2011
- Drafted by: San Diego Chargers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 7 (0 Pro Bowls)

#5. Tony Eason (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #15 overall in 1983
- Drafted by: New England Patriots
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#4. Brad Hopkins (T)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #13 overall in 1993
- Drafted by: Houston Texans
- Years as a starter in NFL: 13 (2 Pro Bowls)

#3. Simeon Rice (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #3 overall in 1996
- Drafted by: Arizona Cardinals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 11 (3 Pro Bowls)

#2. Kevin Hardy (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #2 overall in 1996
- Drafted by: Jacksonville Jaguars
- Years as a starter in NFL: 9 (1 Pro Bowls)

#1. Jeff George (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #1 overall in 1990
- Drafted by: Indianapolis Colts
- Years as a starter in NFL: 9 (0 Pro Bowls)