It was yet another big NFL draft for Nick Saban and the Alabama football program.
The 2021 NFL Draft came and went with a total of 10 Alabama products hearing their name called, tied for the most with Ohio State. A record-tying six of those 10 Crimson Tide selections came in the first round, with wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, cornerback Patrick Surtain II, wideout DeVonta Smith, quarterback Mac Jones, offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood and running back Najee Harris all coming off the board in the first 24 picks.
It marked the third time in the last four years that Alabama either had or was tied for the most total draft picks and the fourth time in the last five years that at least 10 ’Bama players were selected.
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Alabama has certainly dominated the draft as of late, but here’s a look at the schools that the Philadelphia Eagles have poached from most.
Which colleges have the Eagles drafted from most?
Notre Dame (28), USC (25), Penn State (23), Ohio State (23), Texas (22)
While it’s been over a decade since Philadelphia took a player out of Notre Dame, no school has produced more Eagles draft picks than the Fighting Irish. The Eagles have selected 28 prospects from Notre Dame, headlined by Bobby Taylor. But Trevor Laws, a 2008 second-round pick, is the most recent Notre Dame product to get picked by the Birds.
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The college that’s historically been the second most popular for the Eagles is USC. Defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu, picked in the sixth round this year, became the 25th Trojan to be drafted by the Eagles.
Right behind USC is Penn State and Ohio State with 23 Eagles draft picks followed by Texas with 22. One of the Eagles’ current best players, Miles Sanders, is a Penn State product. Ohio State also had a talented running back land in Philly with the Eagles’ selection of Keith Byars in 1986. The Birds landed another big time Buckeye the following year in Hall of Famer Cris Carter via the supplemental draft.
As for Texas, Jordan Hicks is the lone Longhorn to be drafted by Philadelphia in the 21st century.
Which colleges have produced the most Eagles first-round picks?
USC (5), Oklahoma (3), Notre Dame (3), Michigan State (3), Florida State (3), Arkansas (3), Tennessee (3)
USC tops this list with former five players who have been Eagles first-round picks. Nelson Agholor was the most recent selection (2015) while Charle Young and Mike Patterson are the other notable picks.
Behind USC is a six-way tie for second between Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Florida State, Arkansas and Tennessee, all with three. The Eagles had some big first-round hits from this group of schools in Hall of Famer Reggie White from Tennessee (supplemental draft), Keith Jackson and Lane Johnson from Oklahoma and Tra Thomas from Florida State. Pro Bowlers Corey Simon (Florida State) and Shawn Andrews (Arkansas), along with multi-year starters Brodrick Bunkley (Florida State) and Derek Barnett (Tennessee) are other first-rounders who hail from these colleges.
It’s been a long time since the Eagles used a first-round pick on a Michigan State or Notre Dame product, with Ed Budde (Michigan State) in 1963 and Neil Worden (Notre Dame) in 1954 being the last selections.
Eric Mullin, Logan Reardon and Gaia De Simoni contributed to this story.