In some ways, the annual NFL draft is like a wedding. There is so much buildup, so many plans that have to be put in motion and some heavy lifting with resources, venues and logistics. Then it’s over in a fraction of the time it took to put it all together.
It was the same way in 2023, and the Big Ten entered the ballroom as one of the main guests. All told, a total of 55 players from the conference were drafted, behind only the SEC, which had 62 players hear their names called in Kansas City.
Michigan led the way this year with nine players drafted. Ohio State and Penn State tied for second with six each. How does that line up historically? Which Big Ten programs have led the way in the total number of players being selected in the NFL draft since 2000?
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You can probably formulate a guess, but we’ll confirm it for you. Here is a ranking of Big Ten programs by the most number of players selected in the NFL since the turn of the century starting from the least amount to the so-called draft king of the conference.