Penn State’s all-time first-round NFL draft picks
In the history of the NFL draft, only a handful of schools have had more players drafted by NFL franchises than Penn State. The Nittany Lions have sent over 360 players through the NFL draft over the years, and that number continues to climb every year. And when it comes to first-round picks, Penn State has had a solid number of those as well, including some top draft picks.
Lenny Moore, arguably the best player in Penn State football history, is appropriately the first player in program history to be selected by an NFL franchise in the NFL draft. Since then, Penn State players have been selected in the first round numerous times through the decades with players like Shane Conlan, Blair Thomas, Ki-Jana Carter, LaVar Arrington, Saquon Barkley, and Micah Parsons.
Here is a look at every first-round NFL draft pick in Penn State history, starting with the first.
Lenny Moore, Running Back
Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY Sports
Year | 1956 |
Pick | 9 |
Team | Baltimore Colts |
Richie Lucas, Quarterback
Johnny Unitas, left, Baltimore Colts quarterback, and Richie Lucas, Penn State University back, pose with awards at Philadelphia’s Maxwell Club on Feb. 1, 1960. AP Photo/Sam Myers
Year | 1960 |
Pick | 4 |
Team | Washington Redskins |
Dave Robinson, Linebacker
Dave Robinson gives his induction speech at the 2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Year | 1963 |
Pick | 14 |
Team |
Ted Kwalick, Tight End
Ted Kwalick (82) Penn State end, is flipped by two North Carolina State tacklers after missing a pass completion in the first period of their game at University Park, Pa., Nov. 11, 1967. AP Photo/Paul Vathis
Year | 1969 |
Pick | 7 |
Team |
Mike Reid, Defensive Tackle
Former Penn State and Cincinnati Bengals lineman Mike Reid tells an old story during the Legends Past and Present event benefitting the Andy and JJ Dalton Foundation and Ken Anderson Alliance at Paul Brown Stadium in downtown Cincinnati. Syndication: Cincinnati Enquirer
Year | 1970 |
Pick | 7 |
Team | Cincinnati Bengals |
Franco Harris, Running Back
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 28: Hall of Famer Franco Harris speaks during round one of the 2022 NFL Draft on April 28, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
Year | 1972 |
Pick | 13 |
Team |
Ed O'Neil, Linebacker
Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Year | 1974 |
Pick | 8 |
Team |
John Cappelletti, Running Back
AP Photo/Paul Vathis
Year | 1974 |
Pick | 11 |
Team |
Keith Dorney, Tackle
AP Photo
Year | 1979 |
Pick | 10 |
Team | Detroit Lions |
Bruce Clark, Defensive Tackle
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Year | 1980 |
Pick | 4 |
Team | Green Bay Packers |
Booker Moore, Running Back
Buffalo Bills running back Booker Moore (34) carries the ball against the Baltimore Colts at Memorial Stadium. Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Year | 1981 |
Pick | 28 |
Team | Buffalo Bills |
Mike Munchak, Guard
USA TODAY Sports
Year | 1982 |
Pick | 8 |
Team | Houston Oilers |
Sean Farrell, Guard
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Year | 1982 |
Pick | 17 |
Team |
Curt Warner, Running Back
USA TODAY Sports
Year | 1983 |
Pick | 3 |
Team |
Todd Blackledge, Quaretrback
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Year | 1983 |
Pick | 7 |
Team |
Kenny Jackson, Wide Receiver
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Year | 1984 |
Pick | 4 |
Team |
Shane Conlan, Linebacker
USA TODAY Sports
Year | 1987 |
Pick | 8 |
Team | Buffalo Bills |
D.J. Dozier, Running Back
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Year | 1987 |
Pick | 14 |
Team |
Blair Thomas, Running Back
USA TODAY Sports
Year | 1990 |
Pick | 2 |
Team |
O.J. McDuffie, Wide Receiver
Peter Brouillet-USA TODAY NETWORK
Year | 1993 |
Pick | 25 |
Team |
Ki-Jana Carter, Running Back
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Year | 1995 |
Pick | 1 |
Team | Cincinnati Bengals |
Kerry Collins, Quarterback
USA TODAY Sports
Year | 1995 |
Pick | 5 |
Team |
Kyle Brady, Tight End
Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY NETWORK
Year | 1995 |
Pick | 9 |
Team | New York Jets |
Jeff Hartings, Guard
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Year | 1996 |
Pick | 23 |
Team | Detroit Lions |
Andre Johnson, Tackle
Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Year | 1996 |
Pick | 30 |
Team | Washington Redskins |
Curtis Enis, Running Back
Peter Brouillet-USA TODAY NETWORK
Year | 1998 |
Pick | 5 |
Team |
Courtney Brown, Defensive End
Doug Pensinger/Allsport
Year | 2000 |
Pick | 1 |
Team |
LaVar Arrington, Linebacker
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Year | 2000 |
Pick | 2 |
Team | Washington Redskins |
Jimmy Kennedy, Defensive Tackle
AP Photo/Frank Franklin ll
Year | 2003 |
Pick | 12 |
Team | St. Louis Rams |
Michael Haynes, Defensive End
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Year | 2003 |
Pick | 14 |
Team | Chicago Bears |
Bryant Johnson, Wide Receiver
Rick Scuteri-US Presswire
Year | 2003 |
Pick | 17 |
Team |
Larry Johnson, Running Back
John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Year | 2003 |
Pick | 27 |
Team | Kansas City Chiefs |
Tamba Hali, Defensive End
John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Year | 2006 |
Pick | 20 |
Team | Kansas City Chiefs |
Levi Brown, Tackle
Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
Year | 2007 |
Pick | 5 |
Team | Arizona Cardinals |
Aaron Maybin, Defensive End
Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Year | 2009 |
Pick | 11 |
Team | Buffalo Bills |
Jared Odrick, Defensive Tackle
Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
Year | 2010 |
Pick | 28 |
Team | Miami Dolphins |
Saquon Barkley, Running Back
Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com
Year | 2018 |
Pick | 2 |
Team |
Micah Parsons, Linebacker
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Year | 2021 |
Pick | 12 |
Team |
Odafe Oweh, Linebacker
Rob Carr/Getty Images
Year | 2021 |
Pick | 31 |
Team |
Jahan Dotson, Wide Receiver
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Year | 2022 |
Pick | 16 |
Team | Washington Commanders |
