Oregon State Beavers' 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 Oregon State Beavers using data from Pro Football Reference. Ties were broken by the most recent year drafted.

#20. DeLawrence Grant (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #89 overall in 2001
- Drafted by: Oakland Raiders
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#19. Sean Mannion (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #89 overall in 2015
- Drafted by: St. Louis Rams
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#18. Erik Wilhelm (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #83 overall in 1989
- Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#17. James Allen (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #82 overall in 2002
- Drafted by: New Orleans Saints
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#16. Markus Wheaton (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #79 overall in 2013
- Drafted by: Pittsburgh Steelers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#15. Isaac Seumalo (G)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #79 overall in 2016
- Drafted by: Philadelphia Eagles
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#14. Brandon Hardin (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #79 overall in 2012
- Drafted by: Chicago Bears
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#13. Scott Crichton (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #72 overall in 2014
- Drafted by: Minnesota Vikings
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#12. Jeff Hart (T)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #71 overall in 1975
- Drafted by: San Francisco 49ers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (0 Pro Bowls)

#11. Sabby Piscitelli (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #64 overall in 2007
- Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#10. Dennis Boyd (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #58 overall in 1977
- Drafted by: Seattle Seahawks
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#9. Reggie Tongue (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #58 overall in 1996
- Drafted by: Kansas City Chiefs
- Years as a starter in NFL: 7 (0 Pro Bowls)

#8. Stephen Paea (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #53 overall in 2011
- Drafted by: Chicago Bears
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#7. Andy Levitre (G)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #51 overall in 2009
- Drafted by: Buffalo Bills
- Years as a starter in NFL: 9 (0 Pro Bowls)

#6. Dwan Edwards (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #51 overall in 2004
- Drafted by: Baltimore Ravens
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (0 Pro Bowls)

#5. Chad Johnson (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #36 overall in 2001
- Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 9 (6 Pro Bowls)

#4. Esera Tuaolo (NT)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #35 overall in 1991
- Drafted by: Green Bay Packers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#3. Nick Barnett (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #29 overall in 2003
- Drafted by: Green Bay Packers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 9 (0 Pro Bowls)

#2. Steven Jackson (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #24 overall in 2004
- Drafted by: St. Louis Rams
- Years as a starter in NFL: 10 (3 Pro Bowls)

#1. Brandin Cooks (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #20 overall in 2014
- Drafted by: New Orleans Saints
- Years as a starter in NFL: 8 (0 Pro Bowls)