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

#20. Donnie Elder (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #67 overall in 1985
- Drafted by: NY Jets
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#19. Antonio Gibson (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #66 overall in 2020
- Drafted by: Washington Football Team
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#18. Tim Long (C)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #66 overall in 1985
- Drafted by: Minnesota Vikings
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#17. Cliff Taylor (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #62 overall in 1974
- Drafted by: Chicago Bears
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#16. David Brandon (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #60 overall in 1987
- Drafted by: Buffalo Bills
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#15. Richard Williams (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #56 overall in 1983
- Drafted by: Washington Football Team
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#14. Michael Stone (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #54 overall in 2001
- Drafted by: Arizona Cardinals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#13. Eddie Hill (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #54 overall in 1979
- Drafted by: Los Angeles Rams
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#12. Anthony Miller (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #51 overall in 2018
- Drafted by: Chicago Bears
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#11. Idrees Bashir (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #37 overall in 2001
- Drafted by: Indianapolis Colts
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (0 Pro Bowls)

#10. Keith Butler (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #36 overall in 1978
- Drafted by: Seattle Seahawks
- Years as a starter in NFL: 9 (0 Pro Bowls)

#9. Earnest Gray (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #36 overall in 1979
- Drafted by: NY Giants
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (0 Pro Bowls)

#8. Isaac Bruce (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #33 overall in 1994
- Drafted by: Los Angeles Rams
- Years as a starter in NFL: 13 (4 Pro Bowls)

#7. Jerome Woods (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #28 overall in 1996
- Drafted by: Kansas City Chiefs
- Years as a starter in NFL: 7 (1 Pro Bowls)

#6. DeAngelo Williams (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #27 overall in 2006
- Drafted by: Carolina Panthers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 6 (1 Pro Bowls)

#5. Paxton Lynch (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #26 overall in 2016
- Drafted by: Denver Broncos
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#4. Bob Rush (C)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #24 overall in 1977
- Drafted by: San Diego Chargers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (0 Pro Bowls)

#3. Derrick Burroughs (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #14 overall in 1985
- Drafted by: Buffalo Bills
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#2. Dontari Poe (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #11 overall in 2012
- Drafted by: Kansas City Chiefs
- Years as a starter in NFL: 8 (2 Pro Bowls)

#1. Keith Simpson (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #9 overall in 1978
- Drafted by: Seattle Seahawks
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (0 Pro Bowls)