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The state of Florida is one of the nation's biggest hotbeds for football players. Just about every college in the nation comes to Florida for elite high school talent.
But which colleges do the best job of getting players from Florida high schools to the NFL?
The USA TODAY Florida Network broke down the past five drafts to determine which colleges have had the most success with Florida players in the NFL Draft.
And because not all picks are created equally, more weight was given to a first-round pick than a seventh-round pick. USA TODAY gave points for each draft pick on the following scale: 10 points for a first-round pick, eight for a second, six for a third, five for a fourth, three for a fifth, two for a sixth and one point for a seventh.
Here are the top 10 schools getting Florida players to the NFL the past five years:
Just missed the cut: Boston College (18 points), Iowa State (16 points), Texas A&M (16 points), LSU (13 points), Oklahoma (11 points).
Total points: 20
Total picks: Four
Highest drafted player: WR Tutu Atwell (Miami Northwestern, No. 57 overall in 2021)
Atwell, who won a Super Bowl ring with the Los Angeles Rams as a rookie, recently signed a one-year deal to return home and join the Miami Dolphins. Edge rusher Ashton Gillotte (Boca Raton) had a quality rookie year as a backup for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025.
Total points: 21
Total picks: Four (one first-round pick)
Highest drafted player: DL Calijah Kancey (Miami Northwestern, No. 19 overall in 2023)
Kancey, who missed 14 games in 2025 because of a torn pectoral muscle, is the only Pitt player from Florida to be taken in the first three rounds over the past five years. Kancey started 26 games during his first two seasons, recording 11.5 sacks and 22 tackles for loss.
Total points: 22
Total picks: Five (one first-round pick)
Highest drafted player: QB JJ McCarthy (IMG, No. 10 overall in 2024)
McCarthy missed his rookie year because of an injury but went 6-4 as a starter in 2025. DJ Turner (IMG) was a second-round pick in 2023. Turner set career highs for interceptions, pass breakups and forced fumbles with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2025.
Total points: 33
Total picks: 7
Highest drafted player: Richie Grant (Choctawhatchee, 40th overall in 2021)
Grant had a couple strong seasons in Atlanta, while RJ Harvey (Edgewater) scored 12 touchdowns as a rookie with the Denver Broncos in 2025. Kalia Davis (West Florida), a sixth-round pick in 2023, is coming off a breakout season with the San Francisco 49ers and signed with the Cleveland Browns as a free agent.
Total points: 37
Total picks: 11 (one first-round pick)
Highest drafted player: Greg Rousseau (Champagnat Catholic, No. 30 overall in 2021)
Rousseau has been solid with the Buffalo Bills, recording 32 sacks and 89 quarterback hits in five seasons. Defensive backs Kamren Kinchens (Miami Northwestern) and Tyrique Stevenson (Miami Southridge) both have had bright moments in the past few seasons. Eight of Miami’s picks were selected in the fifth round or later.
Total points: 41
Total picks: Eight
Highest drafted player: CB Asante Samuel Jr. (St. Thomas Aquinas, No. 47 overall in 2021)
The majority of Florida State’s top picks over the past five years have been defensive backs: Samuel, Renardo Green (Wekiva) and Azareye’h Thomas (Niceville). Green started every game he played for the San Francisco 49ers, including both postseason games, in 2025.
Total points: 47
Total picks: Seven (one first-round pick)
Highest drafted player: CB Devon Witherspoon (Pine Forest, No. 5 overall in 2023)
Surprised to see Illinois this high on the list — ahead of both Florida State and Miami? You shouldn’t be. Illinois has done a fantastic job producing quality NFL players from Florida. Witherspoon and Sydney Brown (St. Stephen’s) have both won Super Bowl rings, and Chase Brown (St. Stephens) rushed for 1,000 yards last season.
Total points: 50
Total picks: Eight (two first-round picks)
Highest drafted player: DL Jalen Carter (Apopka, No. 9 overall in 2023)
The Bulldogs don’t have the most picks from Florida over the past five years, but perhaps no team has produced better NFL players. Carter and Nolan Smith (IMG) helped the Eagles win the Super Bowl two years ago, and James Cook (Miami Central) has become one of the top running backs in the NFL. Tyson Cambell has been a solid cornerback, too.
Total points: 57
Total picks: 11 (two first-round picks)
Highest drafted player: QB Anthony Richardson Sr. (No. 4 overall in 2023)
Gervon Dexter Sr. (Lake Wales) is an established starter on the defensive line for the Chicage Bears, but recent Gators draft picks have largely struggled to make an impact in the NFL. Richardson has had mixed results when healthy and former first rounder Kaiir Elam played for three teams in his first four years in the league.
Total points: 107
Total picks: 14 (nine first-round picks)
Highest drafted players: OT Evan Neal (IMG, No. 7 overall in 2021), OT JC Latham (IMG, No. 7 overall in 2024)
No school can even touch Alabama’s dominance of putting Floridians in the NFL over the past five years. Patrick Surtain II (American Heritage, 2021 draft) arguably is the best defensive back in the NFL. 2025 first rounders Tyler Booker (IMG) and Jihaad Campbell (IMG) are both coming off strong rookie seasons.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Alabama, Gators doing best job getting Florida players in NFL draft
Continue reading...
But which colleges do the best job of getting players from Florida high schools to the NFL?
The USA TODAY Florida Network broke down the past five drafts to determine which colleges have had the most success with Florida players in the NFL Draft.
And because not all picks are created equally, more weight was given to a first-round pick than a seventh-round pick. USA TODAY gave points for each draft pick on the following scale: 10 points for a first-round pick, eight for a second, six for a third, five for a fourth, three for a fifth, two for a sixth and one point for a seventh.
Here are the top 10 schools getting Florida players to the NFL the past five years:
Just missed the cut: Boston College (18 points), Iowa State (16 points), Texas A&M (16 points), LSU (13 points), Oklahoma (11 points).
10. Louisville
Total points: 20
Total picks: Four
Highest drafted player: WR Tutu Atwell (Miami Northwestern, No. 57 overall in 2021)
Atwell, who won a Super Bowl ring with the Los Angeles Rams as a rookie, recently signed a one-year deal to return home and join the Miami Dolphins. Edge rusher Ashton Gillotte (Boca Raton) had a quality rookie year as a backup for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025.
9. Pittsburgh
Total points: 21
Total picks: Four (one first-round pick)
Highest drafted player: DL Calijah Kancey (Miami Northwestern, No. 19 overall in 2023)
Kancey, who missed 14 games in 2025 because of a torn pectoral muscle, is the only Pitt player from Florida to be taken in the first three rounds over the past five years. Kancey started 26 games during his first two seasons, recording 11.5 sacks and 22 tackles for loss.
8. Michigan
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Total points: 22
Total picks: Five (one first-round pick)
Highest drafted player: QB JJ McCarthy (IMG, No. 10 overall in 2024)
McCarthy missed his rookie year because of an injury but went 6-4 as a starter in 2025. DJ Turner (IMG) was a second-round pick in 2023. Turner set career highs for interceptions, pass breakups and forced fumbles with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2025.
7. UCF
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Total points: 33
Total picks: 7
Highest drafted player: Richie Grant (Choctawhatchee, 40th overall in 2021)
Grant had a couple strong seasons in Atlanta, while RJ Harvey (Edgewater) scored 12 touchdowns as a rookie with the Denver Broncos in 2025. Kalia Davis (West Florida), a sixth-round pick in 2023, is coming off a breakout season with the San Francisco 49ers and signed with the Cleveland Browns as a free agent.
6. Miami
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Total points: 37
Total picks: 11 (one first-round pick)
Highest drafted player: Greg Rousseau (Champagnat Catholic, No. 30 overall in 2021)
Rousseau has been solid with the Buffalo Bills, recording 32 sacks and 89 quarterback hits in five seasons. Defensive backs Kamren Kinchens (Miami Northwestern) and Tyrique Stevenson (Miami Southridge) both have had bright moments in the past few seasons. Eight of Miami’s picks were selected in the fifth round or later.
5. Florida State
Total points: 41
Total picks: Eight
Highest drafted player: CB Asante Samuel Jr. (St. Thomas Aquinas, No. 47 overall in 2021)
The majority of Florida State’s top picks over the past five years have been defensive backs: Samuel, Renardo Green (Wekiva) and Azareye’h Thomas (Niceville). Green started every game he played for the San Francisco 49ers, including both postseason games, in 2025.
4. Illinois
Total points: 47
Total picks: Seven (one first-round pick)
Highest drafted player: CB Devon Witherspoon (Pine Forest, No. 5 overall in 2023)
Surprised to see Illinois this high on the list — ahead of both Florida State and Miami? You shouldn’t be. Illinois has done a fantastic job producing quality NFL players from Florida. Witherspoon and Sydney Brown (St. Stephen’s) have both won Super Bowl rings, and Chase Brown (St. Stephens) rushed for 1,000 yards last season.
3. Georgia
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Total points: 50
Total picks: Eight (two first-round picks)
Highest drafted player: DL Jalen Carter (Apopka, No. 9 overall in 2023)
The Bulldogs don’t have the most picks from Florida over the past five years, but perhaps no team has produced better NFL players. Carter and Nolan Smith (IMG) helped the Eagles win the Super Bowl two years ago, and James Cook (Miami Central) has become one of the top running backs in the NFL. Tyson Cambell has been a solid cornerback, too.
2. Florida
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Total points: 57
Total picks: 11 (two first-round picks)
Highest drafted player: QB Anthony Richardson Sr. (No. 4 overall in 2023)
Gervon Dexter Sr. (Lake Wales) is an established starter on the defensive line for the Chicage Bears, but recent Gators draft picks have largely struggled to make an impact in the NFL. Richardson has had mixed results when healthy and former first rounder Kaiir Elam played for three teams in his first four years in the league.
1. Alabama
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Total points: 107
Total picks: 14 (nine first-round picks)
Highest drafted players: OT Evan Neal (IMG, No. 7 overall in 2021), OT JC Latham (IMG, No. 7 overall in 2024)
No school can even touch Alabama’s dominance of putting Floridians in the NFL over the past five years. Patrick Surtain II (American Heritage, 2021 draft) arguably is the best defensive back in the NFL. 2025 first rounders Tyler Booker (IMG) and Jihaad Campbell (IMG) are both coming off strong rookie seasons.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Alabama, Gators doing best job getting Florida players in NFL draft
Continue reading...
