Kentucky ranks 12th in total NFL Draft picks over 5-year period

Recruit and develop. That Kentucky football motto has has become reality over the last five years.

Since the 2018 season, Mark Stoops’ Kentucky football program is 40-23 on the field with a pair of 10-win seasons and top-25 finishes. The Wildcats have produced All-Americans, All-SEC players, and made three trips to the Sunshine State for bowl games. The football ceiling has been raised in Lexington.

During this run, Kentucky has signed a pair of top-25 recruiting classes and has consistently pulled players from the transfer portal who were able to find some instant success at Kroger Field. That has parlayed into success at the NFL Draft.

On3 has tabulated the draft results over the last five years and Kentucky ranks No. 12 in college football in total draft picks. Georgia leads the sport with 48 selections. The Wildcats are one spot ahead of Iowa, South Carolina, and Wisconsin with 20 draft selections.

During this run, Kentucky has produced two first-round picks (Josh Allen and Jamin Davis) to go along with eight Day 2 selections. UK is ranks ahead of Mississippi State (16 selections), Tennessee (14 selections), Missouri (12 selections), Louisville (6 selections), and Vanderbilt (4 selections.)

This the sign of a good football program.

Kentucky’s draft picks over the last five years

2019 NFL Draft

• Round 1, No. 7 overall: Josh Allen (Jacksonville Jaguars)
• Round 2, No. 54 overall: Lonnie Johnson Jr. (Houston Texans)
• Round 3, No. 99 overall: Mike Edwards (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
• Round 4, No. 122 overall: Benny Snell Jr. (Pittsburgh Steelers)
• Round 7, No. 232 overall: George Asafo-Adjei (New York Giants)

2020 NFL Draft

• Round 3, No. 80 overall: Lynn Bowden Jr. (Las Vegas Raiders)
• Round 4, No. 121 overall: Logan Stenberg (Detroit Lions)

2021 NFL Draft

• Round 1, No. 19 overall: Jamin Davis (Washington Football Team)
• Round 2, No. 44 overall: Kelvin Joseph (Dallas Cowboys)
• Round 6, No. 192 overall: Quinton Bohanna (Dallas Cowboys)
• Round 6, No. 200 overall: Brandin Echols (New York Jets)
• Round 6, No. 206 overall: Landon Young (New Orleans Saints)
• Round 7, No. 232 overall: Phil Hoskins (Carolina Panthers)

2022 NFL Draft

• Round 2, No. 43 overall: Wan’Dale Robinson (New York Giants)
• Round 2, No. 46 overall: Josh Paschal (Detroit Lions)
• Round 3, No. 65 overall: Luke Fortner (Jacksonville Jaguars)
• Round 5, No. 145 overall: Darian Kinnard (Kansas City Chiefs)

2023 NFL Draft

• Round 2, No. 33 overall: Will Levis (Tennessee Titans)
• Round 6, No. 193 overall: Chris Rodriguez Jr. (Washington Commanders)
• Round 7, No. 232 overall: Carrington Valentine (Green Bay Packers)