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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 FIU Panthers using data from . Ties were broken by the most recent year drafted.

#9. Anthony Gaitor (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 7, #222 overall in 2011
- Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#8. Stantley Thomas-Oliver (CB)
- Draft pick: Round 7, #221 overall in 2020
- Drafted by: Carolina Panthers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#7. Alex McGough (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 7, #220 overall in 2018
- Drafted by: Seattle Seahawks
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#6. Tourek Williams (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 6, #179 overall in 2013
- Drafted by: San Diego Chargers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#5. Antwan Barnes (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #134 overall in 2007
- Drafted by: Baltimore Ravens
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#4. James Morgan (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #125 overall in 2020
- Drafted by: NY Jets
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#3. Jonnu Smith (TE)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #100 overall in 2017
- Drafted by: Tennessee Titans
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (0 Pro Bowls)

#2. T.Y. Hilton (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #92 overall in 2012
- Drafted by: Indianapolis Colts
- Years as a starter in NFL: 8 (4 Pro Bowls)

#1. Johnathan Cyprien (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #33 overall in 2013
- Drafted by: Jacksonville Jaguars
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (0 Pro Bowls)

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