Boston College Eagles' highest NFL draft picks since 1970

Written by:
February 24, 2022
Twin Design // Shutterstock

Boston College Eagles' 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 Boston College Eagles using data from Pro Football Reference. Ties were broken by the most recent year drafted.

#20. Gordie Browne (T)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #31 overall in 1974
- Drafted by: NY Jets
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#19. Don Macek (C)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #31 overall in 1976
- Drafted by: San Diego Chargers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 11 (0 Pro Bowls)

#18. Tom Lynch (G)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #30 overall in 1977
- Drafted by: Seattle Seahawks
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#17. Steve Corbett (G)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #30 overall in 1974
- Drafted by: New England Patriots
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#16. Marc Colombo (T)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #29 overall in 2002
- Drafted by: Chicago Bears
- Years as a starter in NFL: 6 (0 Pro Bowls)

#15. Bill Thomas (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #26 overall in 1972
- Drafted by: Dallas Cowboys
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#14. Chris Hovan (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #25 overall in 2000
- Drafted by: Minnesota Vikings
- Years as a starter in NFL: 10 (0 Pro Bowls)

#13. Anthony Castonzo (T)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #22 overall in 2011
- Drafted by: Indianapolis Colts
- Years as a starter in NFL: 10 (0 Pro Bowls)

#12. Pete Kendall (G)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #21 overall in 1996
- Drafted by: Seattle Seahawks
- Years as a starter in NFL: 13 (0 Pro Bowls)

#11. Steve Schindler (G)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #18 overall in 1977
- Drafted by: Denver Broncos
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#10. Joe Wolf (T)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #17 overall in 1989
- Drafted by: Phoenix Cardinals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#9. Damien Woody (C)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #17 overall in 1999
- Drafted by: New England Patriots
- Years as a starter in NFL: 11 (1 Pro Bowls)

#8. Gosder Cherilus (T)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #17 overall in 2008
- Drafted by: Detroit Lions
- Years as a starter in NFL: 8 (0 Pro Bowls)

#7. John Bosa (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #16 overall in 1987
- Drafted by: Miami Dolphins
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#6. William Green (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #16 overall in 2002
- Drafted by: Cleveland Browns
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#5. Chris Lindstrom (G)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #14 overall in 2019
- Drafted by: Atlanta Falcons
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#4. B.J. Raji (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #9 overall in 2009
- Drafted by: Green Bay Packers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (1 Pro Bowls)

#3. Luke Kuechly (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #9 overall in 2012
- Drafted by: Carolina Panthers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 8 (7 Pro Bowls)

#2. Mike Mamula (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #7 overall in 1995
- Drafted by: Philadelphia Eagles
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (0 Pro Bowls)

#1. Matt Ryan (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #3 overall in 2008
- Drafted by: Atlanta Falcons
- Years as a starter in NFL: 14 (4 Pro Bowls)

Trending Now