List of Kentucky Wildcats in the NFL draft

The University of Kentucky Wildcats football team has had 206 players drafted into the National Football League (NFL) since the league began holding drafts in 1936.[1] Because of the NFL—AFL merger agreement, the history of the AFL is officially recognized by the NFL and therefore this list includes the AFL draft (1960–1966) and the common draft (1967–1969). This includes 16 players taken in the first round and one overall number one pick, Tim Couch in the 1999 NFL Draft.

Each NFL franchise seeks to add new players through the annual NFL draft. The draft rules were last updated in 2009. The team with the worst record the previous year picks first, the next-worst team second, and so on. Teams that did not make the playoffs are ordered by their regular-season record with any remaining ties broken by strength of schedule. Playoff participants are sequenced after non-playoff teams, based on their round of elimination (wild card, division, conference, and Super Bowl). Prior to the merger agreements in 1966, the American Football League (AFL) operated in direct competition with the NFL and held a separate draft. This led to a bidding war over top prospects between the two leagues. As part of the merger agreement on June 8, 1966, the two leagues held a multiple-round "common draft". Once the AFL officially merged with the NFL in 1970, the common draft became the NFL Draft.

B Back K Kicker NT Nose tackle
C Center LB Linebacker FB Fullback
DB Defensive back P Punter HB Halfback
DE Defensive end QB Quarterback WR Wide receiver
DT Defensive tackle RB Running back G Guard
E End T Offensive tackle TE Tight end
* Selected to an all-star game (AFL All-Star game, NFL All-Star game or Pro Bowl)
Won a league championship (AFL championship, NFL championship, or Super Bowl)
Inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame

Selections

edit
Year Round Pick Player Team Position Notes
1937 5 42 Bert Johnson Brooklyn Dodgers RB
8 74 Gene Myers New York Giants RB
10 95 Stan Nevers Pittsburgh Pirates T
1939 8 62 Sherm Hinkebein New York Giants C
1940 12 107 Bill McCubbin Chicago Bears DE
20 185 Luke Lindon Cleveland Rams T
1941 11 99 Jim Hardin Chicago Bears DE
15 133 John Eibner Pittsburgh Steelers T
18 165 Charlie Ishmael Detroit Lions RB
21 192 Joe Bailey Green Bay Packers C
1942 10 90 Noah Mullins Chicago Bears RB
1943 5 35 Clyde Johnson Cleveland Rams T
13 119 Clark Wood Chicago Bears T
1944 13 127 Charley Walker Washington Redskins C
26 273 Charley Kuhn Cleveland Rams RB
26 274 Bill Portwood Boston Yanks DE
1945 9 78 Gene Meeks Chicago Cardinals RB
16 163 Jim Little New York Giants T
20 202 Bill Griffin Cleveland Rams T
1946 26 244 Jess Tunstill Chicago Bears B
1947 3 18 Ermal Allen Chicago Cardinals B
27 251 Phil Cutchin Philadelphia Eagles B
1948 7 51 Jay Rhodemyre Green Bay Packers C
1949 7 69 Wallace Jones Chicago Bears E
11 106 Dick Hensley New York Giants E
12 119 George Blanda*†‡ Chicago Bears QB NFL MVP (1970)
AFL All-Star (1961, 1962, 1963, 1967)
AFL Champion (1960, 1961, 1967)
Pro Football Hall of Fame (1981)
1950 4 45 Harry Ulinski* Washington Redskins C Pro Bowl (1955)
5 65 Don Phelps Cleveland Browns B NFL Champion (1950)
6 79 Lloyd McDermott Philadelphia Eagles T
18 231 Ralph Genito San Francisco 49ers B
20 251 Jim Howe Green Bay Packers B
25 321 Lee Truman Chicago Cardinals B
29 368 Ben Zaranka Green Bay Packers E
1951 1 5 Bob Gain* Green Bay Packers T Pro Bowl (1957)
3 29 Walt Yowarsky Washington Redskins T NFL Champion (1956)
3 32 Al Bruno Philadelphia Eagles DE
11 130 Bob Pope Philadelphia Eagles T
14 163 Bill Leskovar Chicago Cardinals B
15 176 Clay Webb Pittsburgh Steelers B
15 179 Bill Wanamaker New York Yanks G
18 210 Dom Fucci Washington Redskins B
28 331 Dick Martin Chicago Cardinals B
1952 1 4 Babe Parilli*† Green Bay Packers QB Super Bowl Champion (III)
AFL Champion (1968)
AFL All-Star (1963, 1964, 1966)
6 71 Jim MacKenzie New York Giants T
13 149 Ed Hamilton Philadelphia Eagles B
17 205 John Griggs Los Angeles Rams C
26 313 Frank Fuller* Los Angeles Rams T Pro Bowl (1959)
28 326 Doug Moseley New York Yanks C
1953 3 36 Bob Fry Los Angeles Rams T
3 37 Gene Donaldson Cleveland Browns G
11 124 Ralph Charney Chicago Bears B
23 269 Ray Correll Pittsburgh Steelers G
29 344 Ralph Paolone Philadelphia Eagles B
1954 1 8 Steve Meilinger Washington Redskins DE
17 197 Tommy Adkins Baltimore Colts C
1955 11 129 Bob Hardy Philadelphia Eagles B
1956 11 129 Dick Moloney New York Giants B
15 180 Dick Shatto Los Angeles Rams B
17 204 Jack Butler Los Angeles Rams T
21 251 Howard Schnellenberger Washington Redskins DE
25 293 Bill Wheeler Chicago Cardinals T
25 295 Brad Mills Baltimore Colts B
1957 6 69 J. T. Frankenberger Cleveland Browns B
17 200 Dave Kuhn San Francisco 49ers C
1958 1 4 Lou Michaels Los Angeles Rams DT
29 349 Henry Herzog Detroit Lions B
1959 22 254 Jim Bowie Philadelphia Eagles T
1960 11 129 Glenn Shaw Chicago Bears RB
1961 12 163 Tom Rodgers Detroit Lions B
17 237 Calvin Bird Cleveland Browns B
1962 1 12 Irv Goode St. Louis Cardinals C Super Bowl Champion (VIII)
9 124 Bob Butler Philadelphia Eagles T
18 241 Junior Hawthorne Minnesota Vikings T
1963 1 9 Tom Hutchinson Cleveland Browns DE
1964 2 24 Herschel Turner Cleveland Browns DE
1966 1 15 Sam Ball Baltimore Colts T Super Bowl Champion (V)
2 26 Bob Windsor San Francisco 49ers TE
2 29 Rick Norton Cleveland Browns QB
3 47 Rick Kestner Baltimore Colts WR
5 72 Doug Davis Minnesota Vikings T
1967 7 163 Larry Seiple Miami Dolphins RB
11 185 Pat Riley Dallas Cowboys WR -
1968 11 283 Dwight Little Detroit Lions G
1969 4 103 Dickie Lyons Atlanta Falcons DB
11 262 Jeff Van Note* Atlanta Falcons LB Pro Bowl (1974, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1982)
1970 10 252 Dick Palmer Baltimore Colts LB
17 436 Dick Beard New York Jets RB
1971 6 131 David Hardt Boston Patriots TE
13 330 Dave Roller New York Giants DT
15 372 Ray Maykin Pittsburgh Steelers G
16 414 Dave Burcell San Francisco 49ers DT
1972 13 98 Joe Federspiel New Orleans Saints LB
7 163 Bill Bushong Green Bay Packers DT
1973 9 213 Ken King St. Louis Cardinals LB
11 270 Dan Neal Baltimore Colts C
1974 4 89 Frank LeMaster Philadelphia Eagles LB
14 346 Cecil Bowens New England Patriots RB
16 396 Dave Margavage Baltimore Colts T
16 410 Darryl Bishop Cincinnati Bengals DB
1975 2 34 Elmore Stephens Kansas City Chiefs TE
5 126 Rick Nuzum Los Angeles Rams C
13 323 Tom Ehlers Philadelphia Eagles LB
1976 2 36 Sonny Collins Atlanta Falcons RB
5 151 Wally Pesuit Dallas Cowboys T
16 439 Steve Campassi Philadelphia Eagles RB
1977 1 6 Warren Bryant Atlanta Falcons T
1 26 Randy Burke Baltimore Colts WR
1978 1 2 Art Still* Kansas City Chiefs DE Pro Bowl (1980, 1981, 1982, 1984)
5 136 Derrick Ramsey Oakland Raiders TE
9 244 Mike Martin Chicago Bears LB
10 255 Will Grant Buffalo Bills C
10 275 Dallas Owens Baltimore Colts DB
11 282 Jerry Blanton Buffalo Bills LB
1979 3 70 Jim Ramey Cleveland Browns DE
4 93 Jim Kovach New Orleans Saints LB
5 123 Kelly Kirchbaum New York Jets LB
7 181 Bob Winkel Minnesota Vikings DT
8 209 Robert Hawkins Oakland Raiders RB
10 256 Dan Fowler New York Giants G
12 317 David Stephens Minnesota Vikings LB
1979s 6 0 Rod Stewart Buffalo Bills RB
1980 3 74 Larry Carter Denver Broncos DB
6 150 Lester Boyd New Orleans Saints LB
7 180 Tom Kearns New England Patriots G
1981 9 233 Tim Gooch Baltimore Colts DT
1982 11 287 Jim Campbell Houston Oilers TE
1984 6 141 John Grimsley Houston Oilers LB
1985 1 19 George Adams New York Giants RB
5 136 Cam Jacobs Pittsburgh Steelers LB
10 268 Oliver White Pittsburgh Steelers TE
11 291 Jeff Smith San Diego Chargers DT
1986 8 221 Maurice Douglass Chicago Bears DB
10 253 Jon Dumbauld New Orleans Saints DE
1987 5 130 Marc Logan Cincinnati Bengals RB
5 137 Tony Mayes Tampa Bay Buccaneers DB
12 327 Bill Ransdell New York Jets QB
1988 2 44 Dermontti Dawson*‡ Pittsburgh Steelers C Pro Bowl (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998)
Pro Football Hall of Fame (2012)
5 128 Jerry Reese Pittsburgh Steelers DE
8 205 Mark Higgs Dallas Cowboys RB
12 205 Greg Kunkel Los Angeles Raiders G
1989 7 174 D. J. Johnson Pittsburgh Steelers DB
7 182 Ivy Joe Hunter Indianapolis Colts RB
8 222 Chris Chenault Cincinnati Bengals LB
9 233 Chris Darrington Washington Redskins TE
1990 3 55 Oliver Barnett Atlanta Falcons DE
7 171 Donnie Gardner Tampa Bay Buccaneers DE
8 184 Andy Murray Houston Oilers RB
1991 5 261 Al Baker New York Jets RB
12 323 Jeff Brady Pittsburgh Steelers LB
1993 4 85 Dean Wells Seattle Seahawks LB
4 97 Todd Perry Chicago Bears G
6 158 Chuck Bradley Houston Oilers T
8 158 Doug Pelfrey Cincinnati Bengals K
1994 6 172 Terry Samuels Arizona Cardinals TE
7 207 Zane Beehn San Diego Chargers LB
7 222 Marty Moore New England Patriots LB
1995 2 43 Melvin Johnson Tampa Bay Buccaneers DB
1996 3 75 Moe Williams Minnesota Vikings RB
7 221 Reggie Rusk Tampa Bay Buccaneers DB
1997 5 141 Van Hiles Chicago Bears DB
7 205 Chris Ward Baltimore Ravens DE
1998 7 234 Kio Sanford San Diego Chargers WR
1999 1 1 Tim Couch Cleveland Browns QB
4 98 Craig Yeast Cincinnati Bengals WR
2000 5 157 James Whalen Tampa Bay Buccaneers TE
2001 3 69 Eric Kelly Minnesota Vikings DB
7 233 Marlon McCree Jacksonville Jaguars DB
7 236 Quentin McCord Atlanta Falcons WR
2002 3 98 Dennis Johnson Arizona Cardinals DE
2003 1 4 Dewayne Robertson New York Jets DT
4 99 Artose Pinner Detroit Lions RB
2004 7 244 Derek Abney Baltimore Ravens WR
2005 3 92 Vincent Burns Indianapolis Colts DE
2008 4 127 Jacob Tamme Indianapolis Colts TE
4 128 Keenan Burton St. Louis Rams WR
6 198 Andre' Woodson New York Giants QB
7 224 Stevie Johnson Buffalo Bills WR
2009 6 207 Myron Pryor New England Patriots DT
2010 3 83 Corey Peters Atlanta Falcons DT
4 105 Trevard Lindley Philadelphia Eagles DB
5 139 John Conner New York Jets FB
2011 2 64 Randall Cobb* Green Bay Packers WR Pro Bowl (2014, 2015)
2012 6 181 Winston Guy Seattle Seahawks DB
6 188 Danny Trevathan Denver Broncos LB Super Bowl Champion (50)
2013 3 65 Larry Warford Detroit Lions G Pro Bowl (2017, 2018, 2019)
2014 5 151 Avery Williamson Tennessee Titans LB
2015 1 22 Bud Dupree Pittsburgh Steelers LB
4 122 Za'Darius Smith Baltimore Ravens DE Pro Bowl (2019, 2020)
2016 6 190 Josh Forrest Los Angeles Rams LB
2019 1 7 Josh Allen Jacksonville Jaguars LB Pro Bowl (2019)
2 54 Lonnie Johnson Jr. Houston Texans DB
3 99 Mike Edwards Tampa Bay Buccaneers DB Super Bowl Champion (LV)
4 122 Benny Snell Pittsburgh Steelers RB
7 232 George Asafo-Adjei New York Giants T
2020 3 80 Lynn Bowden Las Vegas Raiders WR
4 121 Logan Stenberg Detroit Lions G
2021 1 19 Jamin Davis Washington Football Team LB
2 44 Kelvin Joseph Dallas Cowboys DB
6 192 Quinton Bohanna Dallas Cowboys DT
6 200 Brandin Echols New York Jets DB
6 206 Landon Young New Orleans Saints T
7 232 Phil Hoskins Carolina Panthers DT
2022 2 43 Wan'Dale Robinson New York Giants WR
2 46 Josh Paschal Detroit Lions DE
3 65 Luke Fortner Jacksonville Jaguars C
5 145 Darian Kinnard Kansas City Chiefs T
2023 2 33 Will Levis Tennessee Titans QB
6 193 Chris Rodriguez Jr. Washington Commanders RB
7 232 Carrington Valentine Green Bay Packers DB
2024 3 70 Andru Phillips New York Giants DB
3 72 Trevin Wallace Carolina Panthers LB
4 128 Ray Davis Buffalo Bills RB
6 218 Devin Leary Baltimore Ravens QB

Notable undrafted players

edit

Note: No drafts held before 1920

Year Player Debut Team Position Notes
1970 Cal Withrow C San Diego Chargers
1974 Doug Kotar RB Pittsburgh Steelers
1979 Thom Dornbrook C Pittsburgh Steelers
1987 Cornell Burbage WR Dallas Cowboys
2002 Chris Demaree DT San Diego Chargers
2022 Josh Ali WR Atlanta Falcons
2023 Tashawn Manning G Baltimore Ravens
Keidron Smith DB Miami Dolphins
DeAndre Square LB Los Angeles Rams
2024 Brenden Bates TE Chicago Bears
Jeremy Flax OT Minnesota Vikings
Tayvion Robinson WR Baltimore Ravens

References

edit
  1. ^ "Kentucky Drafted Players/Alumni | Pro-Football-Reference.com".