Most players drafted from one college in an NFL Draft: Why Michigan could break Georgia's record in 2024

Bill Bender

Most players drafted from one college in an NFL Draft: Why Michigan could break Georgia's record in 2024 image

At last year's Big Ten Media Days, Jim Harbaugh predicted that Michigan would break the NFL Draft record for most players drafted from one college. 

"I think we'll have 20 guys picked [in 2024]," Harbaugh told The Athletic's Bruce Feldman. "I bet we break that record." 

Michigan won the national championship with a 15-0 record in 2023. Now, it looks like at least a dozen players from that team are locks to go in the 2024 NFL Draft. Harbaugh – now the coach with the Los Angeles Chargers – will have a chance to add to that total. 

That will be one of the leading storylines heading into the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit from April 25-27, as the Wolverines will undoubtedly have a strong presence there throughout the weekend. 

Will they set a new NFL record? Here's a look at that very-real possibility: 

MORE NFL DRAFT: Big board top 200 | 7-round mock draft | Mock with trades

Most players drafted in one year by school

Georgia set the record with 15 players selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Bulldogs won the national championship that season and followed it up with five first-round picks, led by No. 1 pick Travon Walker.  

Georgia's 15 total picks broke the previous record of 14 held by Ohio State (2004) and LSU (2020). The Buckeyes had three first-round picks in that class: Will Smith, Chris Gamble, and Michael Jenkins.

LSU had five first-rounders in 2020, including No. 1 pick Joe Burrow and a supporting cast that included K'Lavon Chaisson, Justin Jefferson, Patrick Queen, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. 

Alabama (2018) and Ohio State (2016) are next with 12 players apiece. Michigan is in position to join those five legendary draft classes. 

How many Michigan players will get drafted in 2024? 

Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer has 13 Michigan players drafted in his latest seven-round mock draft

Here's a look at where those players are projected to go:  

PLAYER POS ROUND PICK NO. MOCK TEAM
J.J. McCarthy QB 1 11 Vikings
Mike Sainristil CB 2 49 Bengals
Kris Jenkins DT 2 54 Browns
Blake Corum RB 3 66 Cardinals
Junior Colson LB 3 70 N.Y. Giants
Roman Wilson WR 3 90 Cardinals
Zak Zinter G 4 102 Seahawks
Cornelius Johnson WR 5 148 Raiders
Drake Nugent CB 5 154 Rams
Michael Barrett LB 6 179 Seahawks
A.J. Barner TE 6 192 Seahawks
Trevor Keegan G 6 205 Lions
Braiden McGregor LB 7 244 Cowboys

That would not be enough to break Georgia's record, but there are a few other Michigan players who might hear their names called, including edge rusher Jaylen Harrell, cornerback Josh Wallace, and offensive linemen Trente Jones, Karsen Barnhart, and LaDarius Henderson. 

That could push that total to a record-breaking number. 

How many first-round picks will Michigan have in 2024 NFL Draft? 

Georgia also holds the record for most first-round picks with five in 2022. 

McCarthy is the only Michigan player selected in the first round in Iyer's latest mock draft. He was a two-year starter at quarterback and led the Wolverines to a 27-1 record. 

He's moved up draft boards throughout the process and has the chance to be the first Michigan quarterback selected in the first round since the Chicago Bears picked Harbaugh with the No. 26 pick in the 1987 NFL Draft.  

Most Michigan players drafted in a single draft

The Wolverines had 11 players selected in 2017, a class that featured first-round picks Jabrill Peppers and Taco Charlton. Michigan finished 10-3 in that 2016 season, which was Harbaugh's second year with the program. 

How many NFL Draft picks does Michigan have under Jim Harbaugh? 

Harbaugh did an excellent job upgrading the NFL talent at Michigan after arriving in 2015. Michigan has 53 draft picks and nine first-round picks since the 2016 NFL Draft. A year-by-year breakdown of those picks: 

Michigan NFL Draft picks under Jim Harbaugh by year

YEAR PICKS 1ST ROUND
2016 3 0
2017 11 2
2018 2 0
2019 5 2
2020 10 1
2021 8 1
2022 5 2
2023 9 1

Bill Bender

Bill Bender Photo

Bill Bender graduated from Ohio University in 2002 and started at The Sporting News as a fantasy football writer in 2007. He has covered the College Football Playoff, NBA Finals and World Series for SN. Bender enjoys story-telling, awesomely-bad 80s movies and coaching youth sports.