Which college coaches have the most first-round NFL draft picks of all time?

When recruits are picking where they want to play college football, the vast majority of them prioritize which program will give them the best path to the NFL. 

Many coaches have been able to help fulfill those dreams, but a select few have been elite at getting their players drafted in the first round over the years. Entering the 2025 NFL Draft, eleven college football head coaches have at least 20 players selected in the first round.

Georgia's Kirby Smart and Ohio State's Ryan Day could join that list soon. Smart has seen 16 of his Bulldogs get selected in Round 1 since he became their head coach in 2016, with linebacker Jalon Walker, edge rusher and safety Malaki Starks being viewed as potential first-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. Day, meanwhile, has coached 10 first-round picks since becoming Ohio State's head coach in 2019, with offensive tackle Josh Simmons, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, offensive lineman Donovan Jackson, edge rusher JT Tuimoloau, defensive tackle Tyleik Williams and running back TreVeyon Henderson each being featured as first-round picks ahead of this year's draft.

For now, Smart and Day are on the outside looking in. Here are the top 10 coaches at producing first-round picks.

As Osborne turned Nebraska into a powerhouse during his 25-year stint (1973-97), he coached a lot of first-round talent over the years. Wide receiver Irving Fryar was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1984 NFL Draft and one of seven players that was a top-five pick that Osborne coached at Nebraska. Neil Smith was arguably the best off the bench, with the defensive end recording six Pro Bowls after the Chiefs selected him with the second overall pick in 1988.

Cooper's Ohio State teams in the 1990s were loaded with NFL talent