After four Big Ten players were picked in the first round last year, it took a little while longer for the Big Ten train to leave the station in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft on Thursday night.
But in the end, seven players from the conference were selected in the opening 32 picks.
Ohio State's defensive secondary had the best night, with three Buckeyes defensive backs selected in the first round. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore was the highest Big Ten product chosen, selected by the New Orleans Saints with the No. 11 pick. Four picks later, safety Malik Hooker went to the Indianapolis Colts at No. 15. And cornerback Gareon Conley was taken with by the Oakland Raiders with the No. 24 pick.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Chicago sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
A pair of Michigan defenders also heard their names Thursday night. Do-it-all star Jabrill Peppers, who's expected to settle in at safety in the pros, was picked by the Cleveland Browns at No. 25. Defensive lineman Taco Charlton went to the Dallas Cowboys with the No. 28 choice.
Wisconsin wrapped up the Big Ten's first-round contingent with two of the final three picks of the night. Linebacker T.J. Watt went to the Pittsburgh Steelers with the No. 30 selection, and offensive lineman Ryan Ramczyk was the No. 32 pick, heading to the Saints.
Only the SEC, with 12, had more players selected than the Big Ten.
Though not a surprise, one item of note was the Big Ten's first-round quarterback drought stretching another year. The last Big Ten quarterback selected in the first round of the NFL Draft was Kerry Collins, picked out of Penn State with the No. 5 selection in 1995.