NFL droughts are perhaps the most excruciating ones. Every college football program dreams of producing first-round picks. It’s a badge of honor. And undoubtedly, a selling point for upcoming recruits. It is proof that the school can get players to the big stage. But while some schools are practically factories for NFL talent, others are stuck watching the first round from the sidelines year after year.
7 Schools With The Longest First-Round NFL Draft Droughts
1) Indiana | 31 Years
It has been more than three decades since Indiana had a player called up in the first round. The last person to be drafted in the first round was wide receiver Thomas Lewis, selected by the New York Giants at No. 24 in 1994. That was before TikTok was even a thing. Indiana’s history in football has been lean, to say the least.
They did have an eight-win season in 2019, their best since 1993. But that kind of winning has been very rare. Since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, the Hoosiers have produced just five first-round picks. And none of them exactly turned into household names.
2) Kansas State | 17 Years
The Wildcats have clawed their way into NFL circles, but first-round love has been elusive. The last time a Kansas State player was selected in Round 1 was Josh Freeman, the quarterback drafted by Tampa Bay in 2009.
Despite a proud 26-year streak of sending at least one player to the NFL, first-round selections are simply rare. Just six Wildcats have ever been picked that early. They have great depth, but none good enough to be a first-round pick.
2) Vanderbilt | 17 Years
Back in 2008, Vanderbilt’s Chris Williams made headlines. Williams was drafted by the Chicago Bears at No. 14. Before that, it was Jay Cutler in 2005. But since then, there has been nobody.
Vandy has a rich academic tradition and a football team that occasionally shows potential. For now, their draft résumé still leans heavily on mid-round finds and hidden gems.
4) Virginia | 16 Years
Virginia’s last first-round pick was offensive lineman Eugene Monroe in 2009. And while Monroe had a solid NFL run, the Hoos haven’t had much to brag about since. They had Juan Thornhill in 2019, but he was picked in the second round.
Despite having 14 first-rounders in the Super Bowl era, with many drafted within the top 15, the Cavaliers have fallen off. A few strong prospects pop up now and then, but that Round 1 dry spell is still going.
5) Georgia Tech | 15 Years
Georgia Tech’s past shows big names. It has NFL stars like Calvin Johnson, Demaryius Thomas and Derrick Morgan. But their last first-rounder was in 2010. Since then, silence.
Current coach Brent Key is on a mission to change that. Tech’s got the legacy. Now they just need someone to rise to that Round 1 caliber again.
5) Rutgers | 15 Years
Rutgers fans remember 2010 very well. That was when the Scarlet Knights had two first-rounders: Anthony Davis and Devin McCourty.
That energy, built under coach Greg Schiano, gave Rutgers one of its best eras ever. They even had a Heisman candidate in Ray Rice. But since that 2010 draft high, the Knights haven’t had another Round 1 call.
7) Nebraska | 13 Years
Nobody expects a powerhouse program like Nebraska to be on this list. But their last first-round pick came in 2011, when cornerback Prince Amukamara went to the New York Giants.
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It’s been a frustrating fall from grace for the Cornhuskers, once a dynasty in college football. And while they’ve had NFL talent in recent years, none have cracked the first round.
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