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

#11. Mason Schreck (TE)
- Draft pick: Round 7, #251 overall in 2017
- Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#10. Jamey Richard (T)
- Draft pick: Round 7, #236 overall in 2008
- Drafted by: Indianapolis Colts
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#9. Drew Haddad (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 7, #233 overall in 2000
- Drafted by: Buffalo Bills
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#8. Kristjan Sokoli (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 6, #214 overall in 2015
- Drafted by: Seattle Seahawks
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#7. James Starks (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 6, #193 overall in 2010
- Drafted by: Green Bay Packers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#6. Trevor Scott (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 6, #169 overall in 2008
- Drafted by: Oakland Raiders
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#5. Steven Means (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 5, #147 overall in 2013
- Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#4. Josh Thomas (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 5, #143 overall in 2011
- Drafted by: Dallas Cowboys
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#3. Ed Ellis (T)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #125 overall in 1997
- Drafted by: New England Patriots
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#2. Malcolm Koonce (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #79 overall in 2021
- Drafted by: Las Vegas Raiders
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#1. Khalil Mack (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #5 overall in 2014
- Drafted by: Oakland Raiders
- Years as a starter in NFL: 7 (6 Pro Bowls)