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The NFL Draft starts Thursday night.
The SEC is expected to produce the most draft picks for the 14th consecutive year. They likely will produce their 11th No. 1 overall pick since 1980.
To get you ready, we prepared a fun little Fact or Fiction entry for every SEC team. How well do you know your SEC draft history? (Answers are below.)
Alabama
Fact or fiction? Alabama holds the national record for most consecutive years with a 1st-round pick. The Tide are set to extend the record and make it 12 consecutive years Thursday night.
Arkansas
Fact or fiction? Darren McFadden and Felix Jones were the 1st SEC RB tandem taken in the 1st round of the same NFL Draft.
Auburn
Fact or fiction? Auburn has produced the most No. 1 overall picks among SEC schools.
Florida
Fact or fiction? Among SEC programs, the Gators have produced the most 1st-round picks at quarterback.
Georgia
Fact or fiction? From 2000-2019, Georgia had more RBs drafted than any team in the SEC. RBU will add to its total, too, in 2020, when D’Andre Swift is selected.
Kentucky
Fact or fiction? Even before Lynn Bowden gets drafted, the resurgent Wildcats already have produced more draft picks this decade (2011-2020 drafts) than the previous decade (2001-2010 drafts).
LSU
Fact or fiction? LSU had more QBs drafted from 2000-2019 than any team in the SEC.
Mississippi State
Fact or fiction? The Bulldogs produced the fewest 1st-round picks on offense in the SEC in the past 20 drafts (2000-2019).
Missouri
Fact or fiction? Restricting the list to front 7 defenders, no SEC East program has produced more 1st-round picks than D-Line U over the past 10 drafts.
Ole Miss
Fact or fiction? In the past 15 drafts, the Rebels have produced more 1st-round picks than their Egg Bowl rival, Mississippi State.
South Carolina
Fact or fiction? South Carolina is the only SEC program that has never produced a 1st-round pick at QB.
Tennessee
Fact or fiction? The Vols have had 2 QBs taken in the top 3 picks — Peyton Manning No. 1 overall in 1998, and Heath Shuler No. 3 in 1994. No SEC program has had more.
Texas A&M
Fact or fiction? Johnny Manziel, the No. 22 pick in 2014, is the Aggies’ highest-drafted offensive skill position player in the past 32 drafts.
Vanderbilt
Fact or fiction? In the past 40 years, Vanderbilt has produced more 1st-round picks at QB than Alabama.
Answers
Alabama
Fiction. Alabama will produce a 1st-round pick for the 12th consecutive year, but Miami holds the record at 14 consecutive years (1995-2008).
Arkansas
Fiction. McFadden (No. 4) and Jones (No. 22) were 1st-round picks in 2008, but they weren’t the 1st SEC duo to do it. Florida’s John Williams (No. 15) and Neal Anderson (No. 27) were 1st-round picks in 1986. Auburn’s Ronnie Brown (No. 2) Cadillac Williams (No. 5) went in the 1st round in 2005.
Auburn
Fact. The Tigers top the SEC with 5. Cam Newton (2011), Aundray Bruce (1988), Bo Jackson (1986), Tucker Frederickson (1965) and Ken Rice (1961) led their respective draft class. Georgia is 2nd with 4 No. 1 overall picks. Joe Burrow is expected to become LSU’s 3rd No. 1 overall pick.
Florida
Fact. Four Gators QBs have been taken in the 1st round: Tim Tebow (2010), Rex Grossman (2003), John Reaves (1972) and Steve Spurrier (1967). LSU will tie the record Thursday night, however, when Joe Burrow is selected in the 1st round.
Georgia
Fiction. Georgia has had 11 RBs drafted this century. Swift will become the 12th, but Alabama leads the SEC in that span with 15. LSU is next with 14 and will add its 15th when Clyde Edwards-Helaire is selected.
Kentucky
Fiction. The Wildcats had 16 players selected in the 2001-2010 drafts. With 13 players selected from 2011-2019, they need Bowden and 2 more this week to match.
LSU
Fact. The Tigers lead the way with 8 QBs drafted from 2000-2019. Joe Burrow will become the 9th — and likely the 2nd to go No. 1 overall.
Mississippi State
Fiction. The Bulldogs only had 1 1st-rounder (T Derek Sherrod, No. 32 in 2011) on offense, but that’s still 1 more than Kentucky.
Missouri
Fact. D-line U has produced 5 1st-round picks, tied with Florida for the most among SEC East programs. The Tigers could add another Thursday if DT Jordan Elliott sneaks into the 1st round.
Ole Miss
Fact. The Rebels produced 8 1st-rounders in the 2005-2019 drafts. Mississippi State produced 5.
South Carolina
Fiction. It’s true the Gamecocks haven’t had a 1st-rounder at QB, but neither has Mississippi State. Arkansas has had just 1 — and it was long, long before the Hogs joined the SEC. Lamar McHan was selected No. 2 overall in 1954.
Tennessee
Fiction. LSU had 3 QBs taken with a top 3 pick, most in the SEC. That number is expected to grow to 4 when Joe Burrow is taken No. 1 overall Thursday night.
Texas A&M
Fiction. That honor goes to Johnny Football’s teammate and draft mate, Mike Evans, who went No. 7 overall in 2014.
Vanderbilt
Fact. Vandy had 1 in that 40-year span. Jay Cutler was a 1st-round pick in 2006. The Tide haven’t had a 1st-round pick at QB since Richard Todd in 1976. That’ll change Thursday night, of course, when Tua Tagovailoa is selected.
Managing Editor
A 30-time APSE award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Executive Editor Chris Wright oversees editorial operations for Saturday Down South.
