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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 Purdue Boilermakers using data from . Ties were broken by the most recent year drafted.

#20. Fred Strickland (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #47 overall in 1988
- Drafted by: Los Angeles Rams
- Years as a starter in NFL: 8 (0 Pro Bowls)

#19. Kawann Short (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #44 overall in 2013
- Drafted by: Carolina Panthers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (2 Pro Bowls)

#18. Ken Long (G)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #44 overall in 1976
- Drafted by: Detroit Lions
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#17. Keena Turner (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #39 overall in 1980
- Drafted by: San Francisco 49ers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 9 (1 Pro Bowls)

#16. Mike Alstott (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #35 overall in 1996
- Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 9 (6 Pro Bowls)

#15. Don Anderson (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #32 overall in 1985
- Drafted by: Indianapolis Colts
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#14. Dave Young (TE)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #32 overall in 1981
- Drafted by: NY Giants
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#13. Drew Brees (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #32 overall in 2001
- Drafted by: San Diego Chargers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 19 (13 Pro Bowls)

#12. Dustin Keller (TE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #30 overall in 2008
- Drafted by: NY Jets
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#11. Anthony Spencer (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #26 overall in 2007
- Drafted by: Dallas Cowboys
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (1 Pro Bowls)

#10. Ken Novak (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #20 overall in 1976
- Drafted by: Baltimore Ravens
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#9. Darryl Stingley (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #19 overall in 1973
- Drafted by: New England Patriots
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (0 Pro Bowls)

#8. Ryan Kerrigan (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #16 overall in 2011
- Drafted by: Washington Football Team
- Years as a starter in NFL: 9 (4 Pro Bowls)

#7. Rod Woodson (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #10 overall in 1987
- Drafted by: Pittsburgh Steelers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 15 (11 Pro Bowls)

#6. Otis Armstrong (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #9 overall in 1973
- Drafted by: Denver Broncos
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (2 Pro Bowls)

#5. Mike Pruitt (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #7 overall in 1976
- Drafted by: Cleveland Browns
- Years as a starter in NFL: 8 (2 Pro Bowls)

#4. Larry Burton (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #7 overall in 1975
- Drafted by: New Orleans Saints
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#3. Dave Butz (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #5 overall in 1973
- Drafted by: St. Louis Rams
- Years as a starter in NFL: 14 (1 Pro Bowls)

#2. Mike Phipps (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #3 overall in 1970
- Drafted by: Cleveland Browns
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (0 Pro Bowls)

#1. Jim Everett (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #3 overall in 1986
- Drafted by: Houston Texans
- Years as a starter in NFL: 10 (1 Pro Bowls)

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