Recapping Penn State's First-Round History at the NFL Draft
Penn State is a getting on a roll first-round roll at the NFL Draft. Coach James Franklin's team likely will extend its streak to three years with at least one first-rounder at the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City.
Cornerback Joey Porter, Jr. is set to make Penn State draft history, becoming the program's first defensive back selected in the first round. He also would be Penn State's 41st first-round pick dating to 1956, when halfback Lenny Moore became the first Penn State player drafted in the first round.
How many first-round draft picks has Penn State recorded? The Lions entered the 2023 NFL Draft with 40 first-rounders. Penn State ranked 14th nationally, four behind Georgia, in first-round picks, according to Winsipedia. Ohio State led all programs with 87 first-round picks.
If Porter goes in the first round, he'll extend Penn State's streak to three consecutive years with a first-round pick. That would be the best such run since the Lions had first-rounders selected in six consecutive drafts from 1979-84.
Penn State has sent 37 first-round picks to the NFL since the common draft began in 1967. The Lions' best draft for first-rounders was 2003, when four of the six players selected went in the first round.
Other unique stats about Penn State's first-round draft history:
2: No. 1 overall picks: Ki-Jana Carter (Cincinnati, 1995) and Courtney Brown (2000, Cleveland)
4: Picks under James Franklin
5: Linebackers selected
7: Defensive linemen selected since 2000 (of 14 first-round picks)
11: Running backs selected
14: Defensive players selected
21: Top-10 picks
26: Offensive players selected
Here's a look at Penn State's first-round history in the NFL Draft:
1956: 9, Halfback Lenny Moore, Baltimore
1960: 4, Quarterback Richie Lucas, Washington (NFL)
1963: 14, Linebacker Dave Robinson, Green Bay (NFL)
1969: 7, Tight end Ted Kwalick, San Francisco
1970: 7, Defensive tackle Mike Reid, Cincinnati
1972: 13, Running back Franco Harris, Pittsburgh
1974: 8, Linebacker Ed O’Neil, Detroit
1974: 11, Running back John Cappelletti, Los Angeles Rams
1979: 10, Tackle Keith Dorney, Detroit
1980: 4, Defensive tackle Bruce Clark, Green Bay
1981: 28, Running back Booker Moore, Buffalo
1982: 8, Guard Mike Munchak, Houston
1982: 17, Guard Mike Farrell, Tampa Bay
1983: 3, Running back Curt Warner, Seattle
1983: 7, Quarterback Todd Blackledge, Kansas City
1984: 4, Wide receiver Kenny Jackson, Philadelphia
1987: 8, Linebacker Shane Conlan, Buffalo
1987: 14, Running back D.J. Dozier, Minnesota
1990: 2, Running back Blair Thomas, New York Jets
1993: 25, Wide receiver OJ McDuffie, Miami
1995: 1, Running back Ki-Jana Carter, Cincinnati
1995: 5, Quarterback Kerry Collins, Carolina
1995: 9, Tight end Kyle Brady, New York Jets
1996: 23, Guard Jeff Hartings, Detroit
1996: 30, Tackle Andre Johnson, Washington
1998: 5, Running back Curtis Enis, Chicago
2000: 1, Defensive end Courtney Brown, Cleveland
2000: 2, Linebacker LaVar Arrington, Washington
2003: 12, Defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy, St. Louis
2003: 14, Defensive end Michael Haynes, Chicago
2003: 17, Wide receiver Bryant Johnson, Arizona
2003: 27, Running back Larry Johnson, Jr., Kansas City
2006: 20, Defensive end Tamba Hali, Kansas City
2007: 5, Tackle Levi Brown, Arizona
2009: 11, Defensive end Aaron Maybin, Buffalo
2010: 28, Defensive tackle Jared Odrick, Miami
2018: 2, Running back Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
2021: 12, Linebacker Micah Parsons, Dallas
2021: 31, Defensive end Odafe Oweh, Baltimore
2022: 16, Wide receiver Jahan Dotson, Washington
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