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While most colleges and universities field a football team as part of its general athletics program, there are some for which football is more than merely a sport—it's akin almost to a religion. Devotion to the team and its colors is as important to that school's culture as a religious icon is to a believer. These programs actively scout and recruit notable high school players, and are in turn rigorously applied to by matriculating seniors eager to make a name for themselves at the collegiate level.

Among the college football empires are Notre Dame, the universities of Alabama, Michigan, Texas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, Penn State, Ohio State—.

But for every touchstone football school, there is an outlier that has produced some of the most successful and cherished players in the game. Think Jackson State, which gave us , Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton. Or Mississippi Valley State, which yielded 3-time Super Bowl champion and #1 Player in NFL History, as voted by the NFL Network, Jerry Rice.

Each year, the college draft serves as a source of renewal to professional football and a testament to the quality of college programs nationwide. With the 2022 NFL draft set to take place April 28-30 in Las Vegas, compiled a list of the highest NFL draft picks from the Arkansas State Red Wolves using data from . Ties were broken by the most recent year drafted.

#20. Carlos Emmons (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 7, #242 overall in 1996
- Drafted by: Pittsburgh Steelers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 8 (0 Pro Bowls)

#19. David Johnson (TE)
- Draft pick: Round 7, #241 overall in 2009
- Drafted by: Pittsburgh Steelers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#18. Jeff Fields (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 9, #228 overall in 1991
- Drafted by: Los Angeles Rams
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#17. Derek Newton (T)
- Draft pick: Round 7, #214 overall in 2011
- Drafted by: Houston Texans
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (0 Pro Bowls)

#16. Ray Brown (G)
- Draft pick: Round 8, #201 overall in 1986
- Drafted by: St. Louis Rams
- Years as a starter in NFL: 12 (1 Pro Bowls)

#15. Jerry Muckensturm (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 7, #190 overall in 1976
- Drafted by: Chicago Bears
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#14. Corey Williams (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 6, #179 overall in 2004
- Drafted by: Green Bay Packers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (0 Pro Bowls)

#13. Oren O'Neal (FB)
- Draft pick: Round 6, #175 overall in 2007
- Drafted by: Oakland Raiders
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#12. Ryan Carrethers (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 5, #165 overall in 2014
- Drafted by: San Diego Chargers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#11. Dennis Meyer (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 6, #143 overall in 1972
- Drafted by: Pittsburgh Steelers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#10. Leroy Harris (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 5, #123 overall in 1977
- Drafted by: Miami Dolphins
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#9. Steve Burks (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #91 overall in 1975
- Drafted by: New England Patriots
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#8. Fred Barnett (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #77 overall in 1990
- Drafted by: Philadelphia Eagles
- Years as a starter in NFL: 6 (1 Pro Bowls)

#7. Demario Davis (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #77 overall in 2012
- Drafted by: NY Jets
- Years as a starter in NFL: 9 (0 Pro Bowls)

#6. Alex Carrington (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #72 overall in 2010
- Drafted by: Buffalo Bills
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#5. Michael Adams (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #67 overall in 1987
- Drafted by: New Orleans Saints
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#4. Clovis Swinney (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #62 overall in 1970
- Drafted by: New Orleans Saints
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#3. Stan Winfrey (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #49 overall in 1975
- Drafted by: Miami Dolphins
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#2. Ken Jones (T)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #45 overall in 1976
- Drafted by: Buffalo Bills
- Years as a starter in NFL: 10 (0 Pro Bowls)

#1. Tyrell Johnson (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #43 overall in 2008
- Drafted by: Minnesota Vikings
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

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