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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 NC State Wolfpack using data from . Ties were broken by the most recent year drafted.

#20. Jesse Campbell (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #48 overall in 1991
- Drafted by: Philadelphia Eagles
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (0 Pro Bowls)

#19. Johnny Evans (P)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #39 overall in 1978
- Drafted by: Cleveland Browns
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#18. Danny Peebles (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #33 overall in 1989
- Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#17. Mike Jones (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #32 overall in 1991
- Drafted by: Phoenix Cardinals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (0 Pro Bowls)

#16. Ron Carpenter (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #32 overall in 1970
- Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 6 (0 Pro Bowls)

#15. John McCargo (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #26 overall in 2006
- Drafted by: Buffalo Bills
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#14. Charley Young (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #22 overall in 1974
- Drafted by: Dallas Cowboys
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#13. Manny Lawson (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #22 overall in 2006
- Drafted by: San Francisco 49ers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 7 (0 Pro Bowls)

#12. Mike Quick (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #20 overall in 1982
- Drafted by: Philadelphia Eagles
- Years as a starter in NFL: 6 (5 Pro Bowls)

#11. Haywood Jeffires (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #20 overall in 1987
- Drafted by: Houston Texans
- Years as a starter in NFL: 6 (3 Pro Bowls)

#10. Dewayne Washington (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #18 overall in 1994
- Drafted by: Minnesota Vikings
- Years as a starter in NFL: 11 (0 Pro Bowls)

#9. Garrett Bradbury (C)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #18 overall in 2019
- Drafted by: Minnesota Vikings
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#8. Ted Brown (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #16 overall in 1979
- Drafted by: Minnesota Vikings
- Years as a starter in NFL: 7 (0 Pro Bowls)

#7. Jim Ritcher (G)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #16 overall in 1980
- Drafted by: Buffalo Bills
- Years as a starter in NFL: 11 (2 Pro Bowls)

#6. Ray Agnew (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #10 overall in 1990
- Drafted by: New England Patriots
- Years as a starter in NFL: 7 (0 Pro Bowls)

#5. Koren Robinson (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #9 overall in 2001
- Drafted by: Seattle Seahawks
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (1 Pro Bowls)

#4. Torry Holt (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #6 overall in 1999
- Drafted by: St. Louis Rams
- Years as a starter in NFL: 11 (7 Pro Bowls)

#3. Bradley Chubb (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #5 overall in 2018
- Drafted by: Denver Broncos
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (1 Pro Bowls)

#2. Philip Rivers (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #4 overall in 2004
- Drafted by: NY Giants
- Years as a starter in NFL: 15 (8 Pro Bowls)

#1. Mario Williams (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #1 overall in 2006
- Drafted by: Houston Texans
- Years as a starter in NFL: 9 (4 Pro Bowls)

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