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

#20. Madieu Williams (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #56 overall in 2004
- Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 7 (0 Pro Bowls)

#19. Josh Wilson (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #55 overall in 2007
- Drafted by: Seattle Seahawks
- Years as a starter in NFL: 6 (0 Pro Bowls)

#18. LaMont Jordan (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #49 overall in 2001
- Drafted by: NY Jets
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#17. Warren Powers (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #47 overall in 1989
- Drafted by: Denver Broncos
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#16. Kris Jenkins (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #44 overall in 2001
- Drafted by: Carolina Panthers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 6 (4 Pro Bowls)

#15. Steve Atkins (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #44 overall in 1979
- Drafted by: Green Bay Packers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#14. E.J. Henderson (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #40 overall in 2003
- Drafted by: Minnesota Vikings
- Years as a starter in NFL: 7 (1 Pro Bowls)

#13. Boomer Esiason (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #38 overall in 1984
- Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 12 (4 Pro Bowls)

#12. D'Qwell Jackson (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #34 overall in 2006
- Drafted by: Cleveland Browns
- Years as a starter in NFL: 9 (1 Pro Bowls)

#11. Kevin Glover (C)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #34 overall in 1985
- Drafted by: Detroit Lions
- Years as a starter in NFL: 12 (3 Pro Bowls)

#10. Chad Scott (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #24 overall in 1997
- Drafted by: Pittsburgh Steelers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (0 Pro Bowls)

#9. D.J. Moore (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #24 overall in 2018
- Drafted by: Carolina Panthers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (0 Pro Bowls)

#8. Darnell Savage Jr. (S)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #21 overall in 2019
- Drafted by: Green Bay Packers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#7. Ron Solt (G)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #19 overall in 1984
- Drafted by: Indianapolis Colts
- Years as a starter in NFL: 8 (1 Pro Bowls)

#6. Pete Koch (NT)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #16 overall in 1984
- Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#5. Shawne Merriman (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #12 overall in 2005
- Drafted by: San Diego Chargers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (3 Pro Bowls)

#4. Joe Campbell (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #7 overall in 1977
- Drafted by: New Orleans Saints
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#3. Darrius Heyward-Bey (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #7 overall in 2009
- Drafted by: Oakland Raiders
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (0 Pro Bowls)

#2. Vernon Davis (TE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #6 overall in 2006
- Drafted by: San Francisco 49ers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 11 (2 Pro Bowls)

#1. Randy White (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #2 overall in 1975
- Drafted by: Dallas Cowboys
- Years as a starter in NFL: 11 (9 Pro Bowls)