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

#20. John Bowie (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #110 overall in 2007
- Drafted by: Oakland Raiders
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#19. James Hudson (OL)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #110 overall in 2021
- Drafted by: Cleveland Browns
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#18. Chris Moore (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #107 overall in 2016
- Drafted by: Baltimore Ravens
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#17. Andrew Stewart (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #107 overall in 1989
- Drafted by: Cleveland Browns
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#16. Parker Ehinger (G)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #105 overall in 2016
- Drafted by: Kansas City Chiefs
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#15. Mardy Gilyard (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #99 overall in 2010
- Drafted by: St. Louis Rams
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#14. Josiah Deguara (TE)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #94 overall in 2020
- Drafted by: Green Bay Packers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#13. John Hughes (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #87 overall in 2012
- Drafted by: Cleveland Browns
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#12. Brad Jackson (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #79 overall in 1998
- Drafted by: Miami Dolphins
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#11. Evan Jolitz (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #73 overall in 1974
- Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#10. Jim O'Brien (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #70 overall in 1970
- Drafted by: Baltimore Ravens
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#9. Antwan Peek (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #67 overall in 2003
- Drafted by: Houston Texans
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#8. Travis Kelce (TE)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #63 overall in 2013
- Drafted by: Kansas City Chiefs
- Years as a starter in NFL: 8 (7 Pro Bowls)

#7. Mike Woods (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #52 overall in 1978
- Drafted by: Baltimore Ravens
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#6. Isaiah Pead (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #50 overall in 2012
- Drafted by: St. Louis Rams
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#5. Connor Barwin (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #46 overall in 2009
- Drafted by: Houston Texans
- Years as a starter in NFL: 7 (1 Pro Bowls)

#4. Artrell Hawkins (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #43 overall in 1998
- Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 7 (0 Pro Bowls)

#3. Alex Gordon (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #42 overall in 1987
- Drafted by: NY Jets
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#2. Derek Wolfe (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #36 overall in 2012
- Drafted by: Denver Broncos
- Years as a starter in NFL: 9 (0 Pro Bowls)

#1. Bob Bell (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #21 overall in 1971
- Drafted by: Detroit Lions
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (0 Pro Bowls)