Mountaineers in the Pros

Looking Back at History of WVU Players in NFL Draft

Published

11 months ago

April 24, 2024

The NFL Draft marks an appropriate time to recognize the former Mountaineers whose career at WVU earned them the honor of being drafted into the NFL.

Being great in college doesn’t always mean professional success, but regardless how these Mountaineers performed in the NFL, they were first stars at West Virginia before achieving their draft reward.

The history of NFL teams drafting WVU products goes back to Joe Stydahar, who was selected by the Chicago Bears with the sixth overall pick in the 1936 draft. Stydahr became a multiple time NFL champion, an All-Pro and was eventually inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The bar was set extremely high with Stydahr’s success almost a century ago, but WVU has consistently produced NFL talent.

Below shows some interesting facts about WVU alum and the NFL Draft (dating back to 1969, aka the beginning of the Super Bowl era).

Most Mountaineers selected in a year

1989: 8 picks selected
1990: 7 picks
1999: 6 picks
2016, 2019: 5 picks

Fun facts

200 WVU players have been drafted into the NFL
2007 was the last year without a WVU playerselected in the NFL draft prior to it happening in 2022
Adam Jones is the highest Mountaineer ever drafted in the NFL since the merger in 1969: 1st round, 6th overall
The Baltimore Ravens are the only NFL franchise who hasn’t drafted a WVU player
There have been 9 Mountaineers drafted in the first round: Jones, Kevin White (7), Brian Jowziak (7), Tavon Austin (8), Renaldo Turnbull (14), Karl Joseph (14), Bruce Irvin (15), Anthony Becht (27)
There are no drafted Mountaineers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame from the modern era (post AFC/NFC merger)
There have been 24 Mountaineer defensive backs selected in the NFL Draft, the most of any position
Draft picks by position: Defensive back (24), running back (19), linebacker (18), wide receiver (16), defensive tackle (11), defensive end (8), quarterback (7), tackle (6), tight end (5), guard (4), punter/kicker (3), center (2), fullback

Every single Mountaineer ever selected in the NFL Draft (post-merger)

2023: Dante Stills, in the seventh round by the Arizona Cardinals

2022: None

2021: LB Tony Fields II, in the fifth round with the 153rd overall pick by the Cleveland Browns

2020: OT Colton McKivitz, in the fifth round with the 153rd overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers

DB Kenny Robinson, in the fifth round with the 152nd overall pick by the Carolina Panthers

Year	Rnd	Pick	Player	Position	DrAge	Tm	From	To	AP1	PB	St	CarAV	G	GS	Cmp	Att	Yds	TD	Int	Att	Yds	TD	Rec	Yds	TD	Int	Sacks
2019	3	101	Yodny Cajuste	T	23	NWE			0	0	0
2019	3	100	Will Grier	QB	24	CAR	2019	2019	0	0	0	1	2	2	28	52	228	0	4	7	22	0
2019	4	120	Gary Jennings	WR	22	SEA	2019	2019	0	0	0	0	1	0
2019	6	188	David Long	LB	20	TEN	2019	2019	0	0	0	1	14	0
2019	4	121	Trevon Wesco	TE	23	NYJ	2019	2019	0	0	0	0	16	1						1	2	0	2	47	0
2018	4	119	Kyzir White	S	22	LAC	2018	2019	0	0	0	6	19	10												2
2017	3	99	Rasul Douglas	CB	22	PHI	2017	2019	0	0	0	10	46	18												5
2017	5	166	Shelton Gibson	WR	22	PHI	2017	2018	0	0	0	0	20	0									3	59	0
2016	5	159	K.J. Dillon	S	22	HOU	2016	2016	0	0	0	0	5	0
2016	1	14	Karl Joseph	S	22	OAK	2016	2019	0	0	4	14	49	41												4	3
2016	4	113	Nick Kwiatkoski	ILB	23	CHI	2016	2019	0	0	1	15	57	22												1	2
2016	5	153	Wendell Smallwood	RB	22	PHI	2016	2019	0	0	0	10	52	12						233	931	5	56	452	2		6
2016	3	77	Daryl Worley	CB	21	CAR	2016	2019	0	0	4	18	56	49												5
2015	7	238	Mario Alford	WR	23	CIN	2015	2016	0	0	0	0	4	0									1	15	0
2015	4	134	Mark Glowinski	G	23	SEA	2015	2019	0	0	3	19	62	44
2015	5	158	Shaquille Riddick	DE	22	ARI			0	0	0
2015	1	7	Kevin White	WR	23	CHI	2016	2018	0	0	0	2	14	5						1	9	0	25	285	0
2014	3	88	Will Clarke	DE	23	CIN	2014	2018	0	0	0	6	53	1
2014	3	69	Charles Sims	RB	23	TAM	2014	2017	0	0	0	13	47	2						245	958	2	129	1190	6
2013	1	8	Tavon Austin	WR	23	STL	2013	2019	0	0	4	25	96	50	0	1	0	0	0	196	1340	10	215	2006	15		7
2013	3	92	Stedman Bailey	WR	22	STL	2013	2015	0	0	0	7	38	8						3	46	1	59	843	2
2013	2	39	Geno Smith	QB	22	NYJ	2013	2018	0	0	2	15	40	31	523	906	6182	29	36	147	661	7	1	13	0
2012	5	140	Najee Goode	LB	23	TAM	2012	2019	0	0	0	10	90	8												1
2012	1	15	Bruce Irvin	DE	24	SEA	2012	2019	0	0	6	40	119	90												3	52
2012	6	174	Keith Tandy	DB	23	TAM	2012	2018	0	0	0	10	90	15						1	18	0				8	2
2011	4	98	Brandon Hogan	DB	23	CAR	2011	2011	0	0	0	0	3	0													1
2011	7	253	Chris Neild	DT	23	WAS	2011	2014	0	0	0	2	24	0
2011	5	134	Robert Sands	DB	21	CIN	2011	2012	0	0	0	0	1	0
2011	6	195	J.T. Thomas	LB	23	CHI	2012	2017	0	0	2	12	62	23												2	0.5
2010	7	231	Selvish Capers	T	24	WAS	2012	2012	0	0	0	0	3	0													2
2009	7	220	Ellis Lankster	DB	22	BUF	2009	2014	0	0	0	5	49	1												2
2009	7	222	Pat McAfee	K	22	IND	2009	2016	1	2	8	18	127	0	1	2	35	0	0	2	18	0
2009	2	44	Pat White	QB	23	MIA	2009	2009	0	0	0	1	13	0	0	5	0	0	0	21	81	0					1
2008	6	194	Ryan Mundy	DB	23	PIT	2009	2014	0	0	1	16	96	30									1	33	0	6
2008	5	163	Owen Schmitt	FB	23	SEA	2008	2012	0	0	0	1	74	16						11	28	0	34	218	2
2008	3	89	Steve Slaton	RB	22	HOU	2008	2011	0	0	2	20	45	26						442	1896	13	100	808	5
2006	6	179	Dee McCann	DB		DET			0	0																	2
2005	3	83	Chris Henry	WR	22	CIN	2005	2009	0	0	0	16	55	12									119	1826	21
2005	1	6	Adam Jones	DB	21	TEN	2005	2018	1	1	6	52	146	104	0	0	0	0	0	2	8	0	2	31	0	17	3
2005	5	174	Rasheed Marshall	WR	24	SFO	2005	2005	0	0	0	0	12	0						1	-7	0	1	-1	0
2004	7	219	Quincy Wilson	RB	23	ATL	2006	2007	0	0	0	0	4	0						2	2	0
2003	5	144	James Davis	LB	24	DET	2003	2005	0	0	2	13	40	30
2003	4	130	Lance Nimmo	T		TAM			0	0
2000	1	27	Anthony Becht	TE	23	NYJ	2000	2011	0	0	8	12	167	132									188	1537	21		3.5
2000	6	168	Marc Bulger	QB	23	NOR	2002	2009	0	2	7	57	96	95	1969	3171	22814	122	93	118	300	8	4	21	0
2000	2	50	Barrett Green	LB	22	DET	2000	2005	0	0	4	21	65	49
2000	2	47	Jerry Porter	WR	22	OAK	2000	2008	0	0	4	34	115	68						9	17	0	295	4120	31		5
1999	2	33	Charles Fisher	DB	23	CIN	1999	1999	0	0	0	0	1	1
1999	4	121	Kevin Landolt	DT	23	JAX	1999	1999	0	0	0	0	1	0
1999	2	55	Solomon Page	G	23	DAL	1999	2003	0	0	3	22	67	58													27.5
1999	3	75	Gary Stills	DE	25	KAN	1999	2008	0	1	0	15	134	1
1999	2	52	John Thornton	DT	22	TEN	1999	2008	0	0	7	50	143	123												1	8.5
1999	3	95	Amos Zereoue	RB	22	PIT	1999	2005	0	0	0	22	84	17						553	2137	10	137	1111	1
1998	7	203	Henry Slay	DT	23	ATL	1998	1998	0	0	0	0	3	0
1997	6	176	Canute Curtis	LB	23	CIN	1997	2002	0	0	1	9	70	15
1997	2	50	Mike Logan	DB	22	JAX	1997	2006	0	0	1	19	116	28												5	4.5
1996	4	124	Kantroy Barber	RB	22	NWE	1999	1999	0	0	0	0	2	0													3
1996	3	63	Aaron Beasley	DB	23	JAX	1996	2004	0	0	7	43	121	105												24	8.5
1996	3	68	John Browning	DT	22	KAN	1996	2005	0	0	4	40	121	96												1	27.5
1996	7	216	Lovett Purnell	TE	24	NWE	1996	1999	0	0	0	2	36	7									19	159	5
1995	2	56	Todd Sauerbrun	P	22	CHI	1995	2007	2	3	11	25	178	0	2	3	63	0	0	5	9	0
1994	3	76	Rich Braham	C	23	ARI	1994	2006	0	0	9	54	146	142
1994	6	169	Jay Kearney	WR		GNB			0	0
1994	6	191	Darren Studstill	DB	24	DAL	1994	1996	0	0	0	0	16	0
1993	3	68	Mike Compton	G	22	DET	1993	2004	0	0	6	50	151	119
1993	5	120	Adrian Murrell	RB	22	NYJ	1993	2003	0	0	5	37	122	67						1375	5199	23	214	1369	5
1992	10	253	Steve Grant	LB	22	IND	1992	1997	0	0	4	22	83	47												1
1992	7	194	Jim Gray	DT		NWE			0	0
1990	9	236	Lonnie Brockman	LB		NOR			0	0																	3
1990	2	51	Mike Fox	DE	23	NYG	1990	1998	0	0	4	42	133	84													45.5
1990	12	317	Major Harris	QB		RAI			0	0
1990	9	229	Jack Linn	T	23	DET	1991	1993	0	0	0	4	11	7													17
1990	7	168	Basil Proctor	LB		NYJ			0	0
1990	2	28	Reggie Rembert	WR	23	NYJ	1991	1993	0	0	0	5	28	4									36	437	1
1990	1	14	Renaldo Turnbull	DE	24	NOR	1990	1997	1	1	3	38	120	60												1
1989	8	209	A.B. Brown	RB	23	NYJ	1989	1992	0	0	0	0	33	1						40	117	1	8	40	0
1989	7	172	Undra Johnson	RB	23	ATL	1989	1989	0	0	0	0	6	0													2
1989	9	237	Pat Marlatt	DT		NYJ			0	0
1989	8	217	Alvoid Mays	DB	23	HOU	1990	1995	0	0	0	9	74	12												5
1989	6	157	Bo Orlando	DB	23	HOU	1990	1998	0	0	3	23	129	55												10
1989	8	197	Chris Parker	DT		DET			0	0
1989	11	298	Brian Smider	T		HOU			0	0																	1
1989	6	166	Craig Taylor	RB	23	CIN	1989	1991	0	0	0	5	36	4						114	480	7	28	188	3
1988	4	84	David Grant	DE	22	CIN	1988	1993	0	0	2	11	70	22												1
1987	12	328	John Holifield	RB	23	CIN	1989	1989	0	0	0	0	3	0						11	20	0	2	18	0		8.5
1986	12	331	Derek Christian	LB		BUF			0	0
1986	1	7	Brian Jozwiak	G	23	KAN	1986	1988	0	0	0	3	28	3
1986	7	182	Fred Smalls	LB	23	SDG	1987	1987	0	0	0	1	3	3													2.5
1985	11	281	Willie Drewrey	WR	22	HOU	1985	1993	0	0	0	11	128	3						2	-4	0	106	1601	7
1985	4	104	Ron Wolfley	RB	22	STL	1985	1995	0	4	0	2	145	14						86	263	2	26	200	2
1985	12	333	Paul Woodside	K		BUF			0	0
1984	12	317	Steve Hathaway	LB	22	IND	1984	1984	0	0	0	1	6	1
1984	9	246	Rich Hollins	WR		DET			0	0
1984	3	59	Jeff Hostetler	QB	23	NYG	1985	1997	0	1	6	56	152	83	1357	2338	16430	94	71	316	1391	17	1	10	0
1983	11	302	Mark Raugh	TE		PIT			0	0
1983	2	39	Darryl Talley	LB	23	BUF	1983	1996	0	2	12	72	216	187												12	38.5
1982	2	44	Oliver Luck	QB	22	HOU	1983	1986	0	0	0	6	20	9	233	413	2544	13	21	44	237	1
1981	10	269	Robert Alexander	RB	23	RAM	1982	1983	0	0	0	0	24	0						8	31	0	2	3	0
1981	5	133	Delbert Fowler	LB		HOU			0	0
1981	6	154	Fulton Walker	DB	23	MIA	1981	1986	0	0	0	3	81	2												5
1978	9	236	Tom Pridemore	DB	22	ATL	1978	1985	0	0	6	44	121	97						2	55	0				21
1978	11	285	Dave Riley	RB		NOR			0	0
1976	8	225	Charles Braswell	DB		DET			0	0
1976	14	380	Al Gluchoski	C		NYJ			0	0
1976	3	90	Ron Lee	RB	22	BAL	1976	1978	0	0	0	9	42	8						206	940	5	24	160	1
1976	17	484	Rich Lukowski	DT		MIN			0	0
1976	17	462	Scott MacDonald	TE		NOR			0	0
1976	4	115	Artie Owens	WR	23	SDG	1976	1980	0	0	0	6	64	5						41	154	1	27	418	2
1975	8	188	John Adams	DT		STL			0	0
1975	3	62	Danny Buggs	WR	22	NYG	1975	1979	0	0	2	16	68	32						1	0	0	110	1572	4
1975	16	403	Kerry Marbury	RB		NWE			0	0
1975	11	263	Jeff Merrow	DE	22	ATL	1975	1983	0	0	8	43	108	101
1975	6	150	Charles Miller	DB		CLE			0	0
1975	10	237	Marshall Mills	WR		ATL			0	0																	5.5
1973	14	347	Ed Williams	RB		BAL			0	0
1972	16	405	Leon Jenkins	DB	22	DET	1972	1972	0	0	0	2	4	0
1971	3	57	Jim Braxton	RB	22	BUF	1971	1978	0	0	4	37	90	64	1	3	49	0	0	741	2890	25	144	1473	6
1971	3	74	Dale Farley	LB	21	MIA	1971	1973	0	0	0	8	13	1												1
1971	8	201	Bob Gresham	RB	23	NOR	1971	1976	0	0	3	18	75	28	1	2	29	0	0	410	1360	12	90	728	1
1970	9	209	Carl Crennel	LB	21	PIT	1970	1970	0	0	0	2	3	0

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Most Mountaineers selected in a year

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Every single Mountaineer ever selected in the NFL Draft (post-merger)

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