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

#10. Adam Timmerman (G)
- Draft pick: Round 7, #230 overall in 1995
- Drafted by: Green Bay Packers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 11 (1 Pro Bowls)

#9. Jordan Brown (CB)
- Draft pick: Round 7, #223 overall in 2019
- Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#8. Bruce Klosterman (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 8, #217 overall in 1986
- Drafted by: Denver Broncos
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#7. Danny Batten (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 6, #192 overall in 2010
- Drafted by: Buffalo Bills
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#6. Doug Miller (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 7, #188 overall in 1993
- Drafted by: San Diego Chargers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#5. Chuck Loewen (T)
- Draft pick: Round 7, #175 overall in 1980
- Drafted by: San Diego Chargers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#4. Bill Matthews (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 5, #129 overall in 1978
- Drafted by: New England Patriots
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#3. Steve Heiden (TE)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #69 overall in 1999
- Drafted by: San Diego Chargers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 6 (0 Pro Bowls)

#2. Dallas Goedert (TE)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #49 overall in 2018
- Drafted by: Philadelphia Eagles
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (0 Pro Bowls)

#1. Lynn Boden (G)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #13 overall in 1975
- Drafted by: Detroit Lions
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (0 Pro Bowls)