What University Has the Most No. 1 NFL Draft Picks? The USC Trojans, Of Course!

The USC Trojans have produced more No. 1 NFL Draft picks than any other university.

USC football is first among colleges across the nation in many prestigious categories, such as most Heisman Trophy winners and a tie for most players enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Producing the most No. 1 overall picks is yet another prestigious notch in the Trojans’ belt.

Six Trojan Alumni Are No. 1 NFL Draft Picks

Here are the six Trojans selected first overall in the draft:

1. Ron Yary — 1968
2. O.J. Simpson — 1969
3. Ricky Bell — 1977
4. Keyshawn Johnson — 1996
5. Carson Palmer — 2003
6. Caleb Williams — 2024

Ron Yary

Ron Yary won the Outland Trophy in 1967, which is awarded to the best interior offensive lineman in the country. At USC, he was a two-time All-American. He was a key member of USC’s 1967 national championship team. The Minnesota Vikings selected him with the first pick in the 1968 NFL Draft.

With the Vikings, Yary was a six-time first-team All-Pro. He is now enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Juice

Controversial O.J.!

He was so beloved back in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Then came the trial of the century. And, alas, he became a pariah.

On the gridiron, O.J. was a legend. With Yary, he was part of the 1967 national championship team. Then, in 1968, he won the Heisman Trophy.

The Buffalo Bills took him with the No. 1 pick in the 1969 Draft. With the Bills, “the Juice” was a five-time All-Pro. And. like Yari, he is in the Hall of Fame.

O.J.’s jersey # 32 is one of only six Trojan jersey numbers that have been retired.

Ricky Bell

Brilliant Ricky Bell’s life was tragically cut short due to heart disease. He died at the age of 29.

At USC, Bell was twice a unanimous first-team All-American — in 1975 and 1976. He was also a key part of USC’s national championship team in 1974.

Bell’s coach at USC through the 1975 season was the legendary John McKay. McKay became the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the team’s inaugural season in 1976, and they selected Bell as their No. 1 draft pick. Bell signed the then-richest-ever rookie contract with the Bucs, for $1.2 million.

The Bucs were awful during Bell’s first couple of years with the team. But, he eventually led them into the playoffs and had over 1,200 yards rushing in 1979.

Tragically, he had heart disease and died at the age of 29.

Keyshawn Johnson

Brash, 51-year-old Keyshawn Johnson will never be forgotten by Trojan fans.

Johnson was an All-American at USC in 1994 and 1995. He was dominant in the Trojans’ Rose Bowl victory over Northwestern on January 1, 1996, catching twelve passes for a Rose Bowl record 216 yards. He was the MVP of the game and has been inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.

Johnson is a Super Bowl Champion and a three-time NFL All-Pro.

Carson Palmer

Carson Palmer was a brilliant Trojan performer. In 1998, he was one of the first Trojans to ever start a game as quarterback as a true freshman.

In 2002, during Pete Carroll’s second season as head coach at USC, Palmer was dominant. USC finished that season ranked No. 4 in the country. The talent on both sides of the ball was admirable, to say the least. Palmer was the captain on offense, and Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Troy Polamalu was the captain of the defense. That Trojan team was loaded with NFL talent.

Palmer won the Heisman Trophy in 2002. After being selected first by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2003 Draft, he went on to have a distinguished 15-year NFL career. He was a three-time Pro-Bowler. In 2005, he was the passing completion percentage leader and passing touchdown leader.

Palmer is one of only six Trojans to have his jersey (#3) retired.

Caleb

2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams is the sixth Trojan to be selected No. 1 in the NFL Draft. He will now begin writing his NFL story.

USC: The Most No. 1 Overall Picks Ever

Fight On USC!

“Fight On” is the USC fight song. It was originally composed in 1922 by a USC dental student. The song is played at all USC sporting events by the Spirit of Troy, the USC Marching Band.

Fight on Caleb!

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