Tulsa Golden Hurricane'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 Tulsa Golden Hurricane using data from Pro Football Reference. Ties were broken by the most recent year drafted.

#20. Reggie Robinson II (CB)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #123 overall in 2020
- Drafted by: Dallas Cowboys
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#19. David Alexander (C)
- Draft pick: Round 5, #121 overall in 1987
- Drafted by: Philadelphia Eagles
- Years as a starter in NFL: 7 (0 Pro Bowls)

#18. Steve Largent (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #117 overall in 1976
- Drafted by: Houston Texans
- Years as a starter in NFL: 14 (7 Pro Bowls)

#17. Greg Fairchild (G)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #116 overall in 1976
- Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#16. Sid Abramowitz (T)
- Draft pick: Round 5, #113 overall in 1983
- Drafted by: Baltimore Ravens
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#15. Michael Gunter (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #107 overall in 1984
- Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#14. Eddie Hare (P)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #106 overall in 1979
- Drafted by: New England Patriots
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#13. Garrett Mills (FB)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #106 overall in 2006
- Drafted by: New England Patriots
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#12. Don Blackmon (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #102 overall in 1981
- Drafted by: New England Patriots
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (0 Pro Bowls)

#11. Chris Penn (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #96 overall in 1994
- Drafted by: Kansas City Chiefs
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#10. Rick Engles (P)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #89 overall in 1976
- Drafted by: Seattle Seahawks
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#9. Wes Hamilton (G)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #85 overall in 1976
- Drafted by: Minnesota Vikings
- Years as a starter in NFL: 6 (0 Pro Bowls)

#8. Tracy Scroggins (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #53 overall in 1992
- Drafted by: Detroit Lions
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (0 Pro Bowls)

#7. Jeb Blount (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #50 overall in 1976
- Drafted by: Oakland Raiders
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#6. Jean Barrett (T)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #44 overall in 1972
- Drafted by: San Francisco 49ers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#5. Dennis Byrd (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #42 overall in 1989
- Drafted by: NY Jets
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#4. Rickey Watts (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #39 overall in 1979
- Drafted by: Chicago Bears
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#3. Ralph McGill (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #28 overall in 1972
- Drafted by: San Francisco 49ers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#2. Zaven Collins (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #16 overall in 2021
- Drafted by: Arizona Cardinals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#1. Steve August (T)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #14 overall in 1977
- Drafted by: Seattle Seahawks
- Years as a starter in NFL: 6 (0 Pro Bowls)