North Dakota State Bison'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 North Dakota State Bison using data from Pro Football Reference. Ties were broken by the most recent year drafted.

#18. Tyrone Braxton (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 12, #334 overall in 1987
- Drafted by: Denver Broncos
- Years as a starter in NFL: 8 (1 Pro Bowls)

#17. Chad Stark (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 12, #329 overall in 1987
- Drafted by: NY Giants
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#16. Derrek Tuszka (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 7, #254 overall in 2020
- Drafted by: Denver Broncos
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#15. Nick Schommer (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 7, #242 overall in 2009
- Drafted by: Tennessee Titans
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#14. Joe Mays (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 6, #200 overall in 2008
- Drafted by: Philadelphia Eagles
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#13. Kevin Donnalley (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 7, #171 overall in 1981
- Drafted by: St. Louis Rams
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#12. Easton Stick (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 5, #166 overall in 2019
- Drafted by: Los Angeles Chargers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#11. Doug Lloyd (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 6, #156 overall in 1989
- Drafted by: Los Angeles Raiders
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#10. Joe Haeg (T)
- Draft pick: Round 5, #155 overall in 2016
- Drafted by: Indianapolis Colts
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#9. Kyle Emanuel (OLB)
- Draft pick: Round 5, #153 overall in 2015
- Drafted by: San Diego Chargers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#8. Lamar Gordon (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #84 overall in 2002
- Drafted by: St. Louis Rams
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#7. Billy Turner (T)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #67 overall in 2014
- Drafted by: Miami Dolphins
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (0 Pro Bowls)

#6. Phil Hansen (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #54 overall in 1991
- Drafted by: Buffalo Bills
- Years as a starter in NFL: 11 (0 Pro Bowls)

#5. Dillon Radunz (T)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #53 overall in 2021
- Drafted by: Tennessee Titans
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#4. Stacy Robinson (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #46 overall in 1985
- Drafted by: NY Giants
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#3. Steve Nelson (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #34 overall in 1974
- Drafted by: New England Patriots
- Years as a starter in NFL: 13 (3 Pro Bowls)

#2. Trey Lance (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #3 overall in 2021
- Drafted by: San Francisco 49ers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#1. Carson Wentz (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #2 overall in 2016
- Drafted by: Philadelphia Eagles
- Years as a starter in NFL: 6 (1 Pro Bowls)