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In a few short hours, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will take the stage and announce the first 31 picks of the 2016 draft.
The SEC should lead the way with the most selections as at least 11 players are expected to be taken in the first round, with the majority of them hailing from Alabama and Ole Miss.
But which team holds the most all-time draft selections? It’s not the Crimson Tide or the Rebels. It’s not LSU, Auburn, Florida, or Georgia, either.
It’s Tennessee. The Volunteers enter tonight’s draft with 337 all-time picks, good for No. 1 in the conference.
All-Time Draft Picks – SEC
337- Tennessee
326- Alabama
324- Florida
315- LSU
311- UGA
271- A&M
262- Auburn
258- Ark
227- OleMiss
209- Mizzou— Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) April 28, 2016
Believe it or not, though, that number is far below the nation’s leader. USC blows away the competition with 493, while Ohio State comes in with 418. Oklahoma leads the Big 12 with 373, while Miami wears the ACC crown at 325.
The Trojans also boast the most all-time first-round selections:
Most 1st Round Draft Picks, All-Time:
79- USC
69- Ohio St
64- Notre Dame
61- Miami
51- Alabama
49- Florida
45- Texas, Tenn
44 OU
43 Michigan— Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) April 27, 2016
But if you go by the last five years alone, the SEC stands above all by a large margin:
1st Round Draft Picks, last 5 years:
53- SEC
32- ACC
26- PAC-12
19- Big Ten
14- Big 12— Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) April 27, 2016
Much of that can be attributed to Alabama’s reign of terror in the first round:
Most 1st Round Draft Picks, last 5 years:
14- Alabama
7- FSU, A&M
6- Florida, LSU
5- UNC, USC, Washington, Wisconsin— Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) April 27, 2016
The 2016 NFL Draft will begin tonight at 8 p.m. ET and can be viewed on ESPN.
Tyler Waddell is a member of the Saturday Down South news team. He brings over five years of professional journalism experience and is closing in on a Bachelor's in sports management. Follow him on Twitter (@Tyler_Waddell).
