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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 Indiana Hoosiers using data from . Ties were broken by the most recent year drafted.

#20. Dan Feeney (G)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #71 overall in 2017
- Drafted by: Los Angeles Chargers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (0 Pro Bowls)

#19. Courtney Roby (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #68 overall in 2005
- Drafted by: Tennessee Titans
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#18. Mike Friede (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #62 overall in 1980
- Drafted by: Detroit Lions
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#17. Antwaan Randle El (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #62 overall in 2002
- Drafted by: Pittsburgh Steelers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (0 Pro Bowls)

#16. Cody Latimer (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #56 overall in 2014
- Drafted by: Denver Broncos
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#15. Andrew Greene (G)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #53 overall in 1995
- Drafted by: Miami Dolphins
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#14. John Isenbarger (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #48 overall in 1970
- Drafted by: San Francisco 49ers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#13. Jason Spriggs (T)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #48 overall in 2016
- Drafted by: Green Bay Packers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#12. Joe Norman (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #45 overall in 1979
- Drafted by: Seattle Seahawks
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#11. James Hardy (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #41 overall in 2008
- Drafted by: Buffalo Bills
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#10. Tracy Porter (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #40 overall in 2008
- Drafted by: New Orleans Saints
- Years as a starter in NFL: 6 (0 Pro Bowls)

#9. Rodger Saffold (T)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #33 overall in 2010
- Drafted by: St. Louis Rams
- Years as a starter in NFL: 10 (0 Pro Bowls)

#8. Nathan Davis (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #32 overall in 1997
- Drafted by: Atlanta Falcons
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#7. Anthony Thompson (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #31 overall in 1990
- Drafted by: Phoenix Cardinals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#6. Mike Dumas (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #28 overall in 1991
- Drafted by: Houston Texans
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (0 Pro Bowls)

#5. Thomas Lewis (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #24 overall in 1994
- Drafted by: NY Giants
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#4. Vaughn Dunbar (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #21 overall in 1992
- Drafted by: New Orleans Saints
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#3. Eric Moore (G)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #10 overall in 1988
- Drafted by: NY Giants
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (0 Pro Bowls)

#2. Kevin Allen (T)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #9 overall in 1985
- Drafted by: Philadelphia Eagles
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#1. Carl Barzilauskas (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #6 overall in 1974
- Drafted by: NY Jets
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (0 Pro Bowls)

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