Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, April 24, 2013

The NFL draft starts on Thursday night, with the highly anticipated first round, and more than 20 Big Ten players figure to be selected by the time the draft comes to an end Sunday.

But before then, let?s take a look back at the last 10 NFL drafts (2003-2012) for the Big Ten and each conference team.

Note: NFL.com database was used as the source.

Most Big Ten draft picks from 2003-2012:
1. Ohio State 59
2. Iowa 45
T-3. Nebraska 41
T-3. Wisconsin 41
5. Penn State 40
6. Michigan 39
7. Purdue 27
8. Illinois 26
9. Michigan State 26
10. Northwestern 12
T-11. Minnesota 11
T-11. Indiana 11

Most first-round picks from 2003-2012:
1. Ohio State 14
2. Penn State 8
T-3. Iowa 6
T-3. Wisconsin 6
T-3. Michigan 6
6. Illinois 5
7. Nebraska 4
8. Purdue 3
T-9. Northwestern 1
T-9. Michigan State 1
T-9. Minnesota 1
12. Indiana 0

Most picks by position from 2003-2012?
Most offensive linemen: Iowa, 13
Most quarterbacks: Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin 3
Most receivers: Ohio State, 9
Most running backs: Ohio State, Penn State, 4
Most tight ends: Iowa, Wisconsin 5
Most defensive linemen: Penn State, 9
Most linebackers: Ohio State, 14
Most defensive backs: Ohio State, 14
Most kickers/punters: Nebraska 3

TEAM BY TEAM BREAKDOWN

ILLINOIS
Number of picks: 26
First-rounders: 5 – RB Rashard Mendenhall 2008; CB Vontae Davis 2009; DE Corey Liuget 2011; WR A.J. Jenkins 2012; LB Whitney Mercilus 2012
Highest pick: DE Corey Liuget No. 18 Chargers 2011
Positions: OL: 7; DB: 6; WR: 4; LB: 4; DL: 2; RB: 2; TE: 1; QB: 0; K: 0
Best year: 2003-5 picks

INDIANA
Number of picks: 11
First-rounders: 0
Highest pick: OT Rodger Saffold No. 33 Rams 2010
Positions: OL: 3; WR: 3; DL: 2; DB: 2; QB: 1; LB: 0; TE: 0; RB: 0; K: 0
Best year: 2010-3 picks

IOWA
Number of picks: 45
First-rounders: 6 – TE Dallas Clark 2003; OT Robert Gallery 2004; LB Chad Greenway 2006; OT Bryan Bulaga 2010; DE Adrian Clayborn 2011; OT Riley Reiff 2012
Highest pick: OT Robert Gallery No. 2 Raiders 2004
Positions: OL: 13; DB: 9; DL: 8; LB: 5; TE: 5; RB: 2; WR: 1; QB: 1; K: 1
Best year: 2012; 2011; 2010-6 picks in each draft

MICHIGAN
Number of picks: 39
First-rounders: 6 – RB Chris Perry 2004; DB Marlin Jackson 2005; WR Braylon Edwards 2005; CB Leon Hall 2007; OT Jake Long 2008; DE Brandon Graham 2010
Highest pick: OT Jake Long No. 1 Dolphins 2008
Positions: DB: 7; WR: 6; LB: 6; OL: 5; DL: 5; RB: 3; TE: 3; QB: 3; K: 1
Best year: 2007-7 picks

MICHIGAN STATE
Number of picks: 26
First-rounders: 1 – WR Charles Rogers 2003
Highest pick: WR Charles Rogers No. 2 Lions 2003
Positions: DL: 6; DB: 4; WR: 4; RB: 3; QB: 3; K: 2; OL: 2; TE: 1; LB: 1
Best year: 2012-6 picks

MINNESOTA
Number of picks: 11
First-rounders: 1 – RB Laurence Maroney 2006
Highest pick: RB Laurence Maroney No. 21 Patriots 2006
Positions: RB: 3; OL: 2; DB: 2; WR: 1; LB: 1; TE: 1; DL: 1; QB: 0; K: 0
Best year: 2006-4 picks

NEBRASKA
Number of picks: 41
First-rounders: 4 – CB Fabian Washington 2005; DT Adam Carriker 2007; DT Ndamukong Suh 2010; DB Prince Amukamara 2011
Highest pick: DT Ndamukong Suh No. 2 Lions 2010
Positions: DB: 11; LB: 9; DL: 8; OL: 7; K: 3; RB: 2; WR: 1; TE: 0; QB: 0
Best year: 2011-7 picks

NORTHWESTERN
Number of picks: 12
First-rounders: 1 – DT Luis Castillo Chargers
Highest pick: DT Luis Castillo No. 28 Chargers 2005
Positions: DL: 3; OL: 3; TE: 1; WR: 1; QB: 1; DB: 1; LB: 1; RB: 1; K: 0
Best year: 2010, 2006, 2005-3 picks each draft

OHIO STATE
Number of picks: 59
First-rounders: 14 – WR Michael Jenkins 2004; CB Chris Gamble 2004; DE Will Smith 2004; C Nick Mangold 2006; WR Santonio Holmes 2006; LB Bobby Carpenter 2006; SS Donte Whitner 2006; LB A.J. Hawk 2006; WR Anthony Gonzalez 2007; WR Ted Ginn, Jr., 2007; LB Vernon Gholston 2008; RB Beanie Wells 2009; DB Malcolm Jenkins 2009; DE Cameron Heyward 2011
Highest pick: LB A.J. Hawk No. 5 Packers 2006
Positions: DB: 14; LB: 14; WR: 9; OL: 8: DL: 8; RB: 4; QB: 2; K: 2; TE: 1
Best year: 2004, 14 picks

PENN STATE
Number of picks: 40
First-rounders: 8 – RB Larry Johnson 2003; WR Bryant Johnson 2003; DE Michael Haynes 2003; DT Jimmy Kennedy 2003; DE Tamba Hali 2006; OT Levi Brown 2007; DE Aaron Maybin 2009; DE Jared Odrick 2010
Highest pick: OT Levi Brown No. 5 Cardinals 2007
Positions: DL: 9; LB: 7; DB: 6; OL: 6; RB: 4; TE: 4; WR: 3; K; 1; QB: 0
Best year: 2010, 2006, 2003-6 picks

PURDUE
Number of picks: 27
First-rounders: 3 – LB Anthony Spencer 2007; TE Dustin Keller 2008; LB Ryan Kerrigan 2011
Highest pick: LB Ryan Kerrigan No. 16 Redskins 2011
Positions: LB: 8; DL: 6; OL: 6; DB: 3; QB: 2; TE: 2; WR: 0; RB: 0; K: 0
Best year: 2004-9 picks

WISCONSIN
Number of picks: 41
First-rounders: 6 – WR Lee Evans 2004; DE Erasmus James 2005; OT Joe Thomas 2007; OT Gabe Carimi 2011; DE J.J. Watt 2011; G Kevin Zeitler 2012
Highest pick: OT Joe Thomas No. 3 Browns 2007
Positions: OL: 10; DL: 7; WR: 5; TE: 5; RB: 3; LB: 3; DB: 3; QB: 3; K: 2
Best year: 2005–7 picks

About Tom Dienhart BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart is a veteran sports journalist who covers Big Ten football and men's basketball for BTN.com and BTN TV. Find him on Twitter and Facebook, read all of his work at btn.com/tomdienhart, and subscribe to his posts via RSS. Also, send questions to his weekly mailbag using the form below and read all of his previous answers in his reader mailbag section.

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