Michigan is coming off an historic draft haul. How fruitful was the 2017 draft for Jim Harbaugh? The Wolverines led the nation with 11 selections. That stands as the 12th most picks in draft history and is the third-highest total since the draft was reduced to seven rounds in 1994.
If you want to be a defensive back or a wideout, go to Michigan State. Mark Dantonio’s program has been proficient in producing players at both spots over the last 10 years, with six receivers and six d-backs getting tabbed.
The last 10 NFL drafts haven’t been fruitful for Maryland, as the program has had just 17 picks. Do the math. That’s not even an average of two selections a year. And the the Terrapins have had just one first-round selection.
Iowa has become a factory for developing NFL offensive linemen. How productive has the school been? Over the last 10 seasons, the Hawkeyes have seen nine of their offensive linemen taken in the draft, the most of any position though it had none among the four selections last season.
The Indiana program has been surging in recent years, making a bowl in 2015 and 2016 before barely missing the postseason in 2017. Tom Allen has the Hoosiers pointed in the right direction with an enthusiastic style built around defense.
Illinois hasn’t had much success on the field the last four years, winning a combined 16 games and has been to one bowl since 2011. That lack of success has followed in the NFL draft, as the Fighting Illini have had just four picks total in the last four years.