SEC Football by the Numbers is looking at the 2024 NFL Draft in four parts. Monday’s initial installment examined the first round. Today, it’s a breakdown by positions. On Wednesday, NFL teams will be the focus. And on Thursday, some stats and streaks about the conference and the draft will lead into this year’s first round of picks that night.
0 NFL drafts in the common-draft era (since 1967) have included three Auburn defensive backs, which could happen in 2024, with Tigers CBs DJ James and Nehemiah Pritchett and S Jaylin Simpson considered draft prospects. Three drafts have included two Auburn defensive backs – Patrick Lee and Jonathan Wilhite in 2008, Rudy Ford and Joshua Holsey in 2017 and Noah Igbinoghene and Daniel Thomas in 2020.
3 Consecutive NFL drafts have featured an SEC product as the first defensive player picked, with Alabama LB Dallas Turner considered a possibility for that honor on Thursday night. South Carolina CB Jaycee Horn went No. 8 to the Carolina Panthers in 2021, Georgia DE Travon Walker went No. 1 to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022 and Alabama LB Will Anderson Jr. went No. 3 to the Houston Texans in 2023 as the first selection on defense in those drafts. The other SEC products who have been the first defensive player picked in the common-draft era include:
· Kentucky DE Art Still, No. 2 by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1978
· Alabama LB Cornelius Bennett, No. 2 by the Indianapolis Colts in 1987
· Auburn LB Aundray Bruce, No. 1 by the Atlanta Falcons in 1988
· Florida DE Kevin Carter, No. 6 by the Los Angeles Rams in 1995
· Georgia CB Champ Bailey, No. 7 by the Washington Redskins in 1999
· Florida DT Gerard Warren, No. 3 by the Cleveland Browns in 2001
· Kentucky DT Dewayne Robertson, No. 4 by the New York Jets in 2003
· LSU DE Tyson Jackson, No. 3 by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2009
· LSU CB Morris Claiborne, No. 6 by the Dallas Cowboys in 2012
· South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney, No. 1 by the Houston Texans in 2014
· Florida LB Dante Fowler, No. 3 by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2015
· Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett, No. 1 by the Cleveland Browns in 2017
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8 SEC players have been the first tight end selected in an NFL Draft, with Georgia’s Brock Bowers expected to take that honor this year. The SEC players who have been the first tight end selected are:
· Florida’s Kyle Pitts (chosen fourth in 2021 by the Atlanta Falcons)
· South Carolina’s Hayden Hurst (25th in 2018 by the Baltimore Ravens)
· Alabama’s O.J. Howard (19th in 2017 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
· Arkansas’ Hunter Henry (35th in 2016 by the San Diego Chargers)
· Mississippi State’s Reginald Kelly (42nd in 1999 by the Atlanta Falcons)
· Auburn’s Walter Reeves (40th in 1989 by the Arizona Cardinals)
· LSU’s Billy Truax (26th in 1964 by the Cleveland Browns)
· Ole Miss’ Johnny Brewer (41st in 1960 by the Cleveland Browns)
11 SEC players have been the first defensive back selected in an NFL Draft, with Alabama CB Terrion Arnold considered a candidate to earn that honor this year. The SEC players who have been the first defensive back selected are:
· LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr. (chosen third in 2022 by the Houston Texans)
· South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn (eighth in 2021 by the Carolina Panthers)
· LSU’s Jamal Adams (sixth in 2017 by the New York Jets)
· Alabama’s Dee Milliner (ninth in 2013 by the New York Jets)
· LSU’s Morris Claiborne (sixth in 2012 by the Dallas Cowboys)
· LSU’s Patrick Peterson (fifth in 2011 by the Arizona Cardinals)
· Tennessee’s Eric Berry (fifth in 2010 by the Kansas Ctiy Chiefs)
· LSU’s LaRon Landry (sixth in 2007 by the Washington Redskins)
· Georgia’s Champ Bailey (seventh in 1999 by the Washington Redskins)
· Alabama’s Antonio Langham (ninth in 1994 by the Cleveland Browns)
· LSU’s Johnny Robinson (third in 1960 by the Detroit Lions)
A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame because of his play at safety, Robinson spent his first two pro seasons as a halfback/flanker for the Dallas Texans of the AFL before changing sides of the ball. The list includes only players designated as a DB by their drafting team. Many SEC players from the days of two-way college football were listed merely as B for back and went on to play defensive back in the NFL.
12 Consecutive NFL drafts have included at least one Alabama defensive back. That’s the longest current draft streak for one position from one school in the SEC. Three Crimson Tide defensive backs were chosen in the 2023 NFL Draft – Jordan Battle, Brian Branch and DeMarcco Hellams. The other defensive backs drafted in the streak include Mark Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick, DeQuan Menzie, Dee Milliner, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Vinnie Sunseri, Landon Collins, Cyrus Jones, Marlon Humphrey, Eddie Jackson, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ronnie Harrison, Anthony Averett, Deionte Thompson, Xavier McKinney, Trevon Diggs, Patrick Surtain II and Jalyn Armour-Davis. Alabama CBs Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry are considered first-round possibilities on Thursday night, and S Jaylen Key also might be chosen in this year’s draft.
12 Consecutive first rounds have featured at least one SEC linebacker, with the selection of Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. by the Houston Texans with the third pick and Georgia’s Nolan Smith by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 30th in 2023 extending the streak. The most recent draft without an SEC linebacker occurred in 2011. Since then, the other SEC players drafted in the first round as linebackers have included Alabama’s Dont’a Hightower, C.J. Mosley, Reuben Foster and Rashaan Evans; Auburn’s Dee Ford, Florida’s Dante Fowler and Jarrad Davis, Georgia’s Alec Ogletree, Jarvis Jones, Leonard Floyd, Roquan Smith and Quay Walker; Kentucky’s Bud Dupree, Josh Allen and Jamin Davis; LSU’s Barkevious Mingo, Devin White and Patrick Queen; and Missouri’s Charles Harris. Alabama LB Dallas Turner is considered a first-round lock on Thursday night.
14 Alabama running backs have been drafted since Nick Saban became the Crimson Tide’s coach, the most in the SEC since the 2008 NFL Draft. Alabama RB Jase McClellan might add his name to Saban’s list this week. Three SEC running backs are considered solid draft possibilities – Kentucky’s Ray Davis and Tennessee’s Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small. Also among the possibilities are Missouri’s Cody Schrader and Georgia’s Kendall Milton. Starting with the 2008 draft, Georgia has had 11 running backs picked, Kentucky and Missouri three apiece and Tennessee two. If Davis is picked, Kentucky will have produced running backs in consecutive drafts for the first time since 1989 and 1990. Chris Rodriguez was drafted last year.
16 SEC players have been the first linebacker selected in an NFL Draft. Alabama’s Dallas Turner is considered a possibility to be the first linebacker chosen in the 2024 NFL Draft. If he is, then the SEC will have produced the first linebacker in three consecutive drafts and seven of the past 11. The SEC players who have been the first LB selected include:
· Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. (No. 3, Houston Texans, 2023)
· Georgia’s Quay Walker (No. 22, Green Bay Packers, 2022)
· LSU’s Devin White (No. 5, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2019)
· Georgia’s Roquan Smith (No. 8, Chicago Bears, 2018)
· Georgia’s Leonard Floyd (No. 9, Chicago Bears, 2016)
· Florida’s Dante Fowler (No. 3, Jacksonville Jaguars, 2015)
· Georgia’s Jarvis Jones (No. 17, Pittsburgh Steelers, 2013)
· Alabama’s Rolando McClain (No. 8, Oakland Raiders, 2010)
· Ole Miss’ Patrick Willis (No. 11, San Francisco 49ers, 2007)
· Alabama’s Keith McCants (No. 4, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1990)
· Alabama’s Derrick Thomas (No. 4, Kansas City Chiefs, 1989)
· Auburn’s Aundray Bruce (No. 1, Atlanta Falcons,1988)
· Alabama’s Cornelius Bennett (No. 2, Indianapolis Colts, 1987)
· Mississippi State’s Johnie Cooks (No. 2, Indianapolis Colts, 1982)
· Alabama’s Lee Roy Jordan (No. 6, Dallas Cowboys, 1963)
· Georgia’s Dave Lloyd (No. 47, Cleveland Browns, 1959)
28 NFL drafts have passed since a Mississippi State wide receiver has been picked. The most recent wide receiver picked from MSU is Eric Moulds, who went to the Buffalo Bills as the 24th selection in the 1996 draft. Every other SEC program has had at least one wide receiver selected since 2014, and 157 SEC wide receivers have been drafted since Moulds. Mississippi State WR Lideatrick “Tulu” Griffin is considered a draft possibility this week.
29 Years since two Tennessee running backs were picked in the same draft, with Volunteers RBs Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small considered draft possibilities in 2024. In the previous 13 drafts, two Tennessee running backs were picked – John Kelly in 2018 and Alvin Kamara in 2017. In 1995, Tennessee RBs James Stewart and Aaron Hayden were drafted, the most recent of the three times in the common-draft era that at least two Volunteers running backs have been drafted in the same year. In 1991, Tennessee RBs Chuck Webb, Greg Amsler and Roland Poles were drafted. In 1974, Bill Rudder and Haskel Stanback were picked.
37 NFL drafts have passed since a Vanderbilt tight end has been picked. That’s the longest position drought for one program in the SEC when the players are divided into quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive linemen, defensive linemen, linebackers and defensive backs. The most recent Vanderbilt tight end to enter the NFL via the draft is Jim Popp, who went to the San Francisco 49ers in the eighth round in 1986. Seventy-seven SEC tight ends have been drafted since Popp. Vanderbilt is not expected to have a tight end drafted this week.
59 SEC quarterbacks have been drafted since South Carolina most recently had a QB picked by an NFL team. The most recent Gamecocks quarterback selected in the NFL Draft is Todd Ellis, who went to the Cleveland Broncos with 247th pick in 1990. Every SEC team has had a quarterback drafted since then, with LSU producing 10 in that span. No player who has been South Carolina’s QB in an SEC game has been drafted, because the Gamecocks joined the conference in 1992. South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler is considered a solid draft candidate this week.
88 NFL Drafts – every one of them – has included at least one SEC offensive lineman and one SEC running back. The last time there was an NFL Draft without an SEC defensive back was 1947, without an SEC linebacker was 1953, without an SEC wide receiver was 1970, without an SEC defensive lineman was 1980, without an SEC tight end was 2005 and without an SEC quarterback was 2015.
This look at the SEC’s draft numbers includes only players picked in the regular NFL Draft -- no special supplemental, expansion, non-NFL or separate dispersal drafts are included in the tabulations. For Arkansas and South Carolina, which joined the league in 1992, the numbers include players drafted since 1993, unless noted. For former member Georgia Tech, players drafted from 1936 to 1964 are included. For former member Tulane, it’s through the 1966 draft. Missouri and Texas A&M have provided SEC players for the past 11 drafts. Former SEC member Sewanee has had one player drafted -- RB William Johnson by the Falcons in 1966, long after the school left the conference following the 1940 season.
The NFL Draft starts on Thursday with the first round. The second and third rounds are set for Friday, with the remaining four rounds on Saturday. ABC, ESPN and NFL Network will televise the draft, starting at 7 p.m. CDT Thursday, 6 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.