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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 Tulane Green Wave using data from . Ties were broken by the most recent year drafted.

#20. Eddie Murray (K)
- Draft pick: Round 7, #166 overall in 1980
- Drafted by: Detroit Lions
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#19. Lorenzo Doss (CB)
- Draft pick: Round 5, #164 overall in 2015
- Drafted by: Denver Broncos
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#18. Mark Mitchell (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 6, #158 overall in 1977
- Drafted by: Philadelphia Eagles
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#17. Burnell Dent (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 6, #143 overall in 1986
- Drafted by: Green Bay Packers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#16. Marvin Lewis (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 6, #142 overall in 1982
- Drafted by: New Orleans Saints
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#15. Ryan Grant (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 5, #142 overall in 2014
- Drafted by: Washington Football Team
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#14. Bernard Robertson (T)
- Draft pick: Round 5, #138 overall in 2001
- Drafted by: Chicago Bears
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#13. Roydell Williams (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #136 overall in 2005
- Drafted by: Tennessee Titans
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#12. Troy Kropog (T)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #135 overall in 2009
- Drafted by: Tennessee Titans
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#11. Mewelde Moore (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #119 overall in 2004
- Drafted by: Minnesota Vikings
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#10. Cameron Sample (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #111 overall in 2021
- Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#9. Eric Laakso (T)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #106 overall in 1978
- Drafted by: Miami Dolphins
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (0 Pro Bowls)

#8. Lionel Washington (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 4, #103 overall in 1983
- Drafted by: St. Louis Rams
- Years as a starter in NFL: 11 (0 Pro Bowls)

#7. Rodney Holman (TE)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #82 overall in 1982
- Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 9 (3 Pro Bowls)

#6. JaJuan Dawson (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #79 overall in 2000
- Drafted by: Cleveland Browns
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#5. Shaun King (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #50 overall in 1999
- Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#4. Eric Thomas (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #49 overall in 1987
- Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (1 Pro Bowls)

#3. Matt Forte (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #44 overall in 2008
- Drafted by: Chicago Bears
- Years as a starter in NFL: 9 (2 Pro Bowls)

#2. Patrick Ramsey (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #32 overall in 2002
- Drafted by: Washington Football Team
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#1. J.P. Losman (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #22 overall in 2004
- Drafted by: Buffalo Bills
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

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