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Top 10: Colleges with the most Browns drafted
We take a look at the college programs that have sent the most players to the Browns.
This top-ten list actually starts at number eight -- or more accurately, in a three-way tie for eighth. The Colorado Buffaloes have sent 15 players to Cleveland via the NFL draft – the most recent of whom was 2006 sixth-round pick Lawrence Vickers, who spent his first five NFL seasons with the Browns.
The Maryland Terrapins also sit in the eighth spot -- having sent 15 players to the Browns in the draft. And just like Colorado, their most recent Browns draft pick came in 2006 -- when linebacker D'Qwell Jackson was selected in the second round.
One of the most storied and successful programs in college football history, Notre Dame has produced 15 Browns draft picks - dating all the way back to 1950 second-round pick Jim Martin. More recently, the Browns have selected two Notre Dame alumni in the past ten years -- first-round QB Brady Quinn (2007) and sixth-round DB Jamoris Slaughter (2013).
We are officially past the "three-way tie" portion of this list, as Nebraska holds sole possession of the seventh spot on this list. The past five years have seen two Cornhuskers selected by the Browns - both defensive backs. Larry Asante (pictured, 2010, 5th round) and Eric Hagg (2011, 7th round) both suited up for Nebraska under former head coach Bo Pelini.
Braylon Edwards had a prolific career at Michigan - one that propelled him into the first round in the 2005 draft. Since then, the Browns have not selected any Wolverines in the draft - although they did take ten between 1957-1969.
The Baylor Bears sneak into the top five on this list - partly on the (very large) back of DT Phil Taylor. Of all the Baylor Bears-turned-Browns, Taylor is the only one to be taken in the first round.
Another one of college football's most storied programs, the USC Trojans have had 19 players drafted by the Browns since 1953 - including a few recent ones. The Browns took two Trojans in this year's draft - TE Randall Telfer (pictured) and LB Hayes Pullard - the first Trojans taken by the Browns since Jordan Cameron in 2011.And, of course, Browns all-time sacks leader and Hall of Famer Clay Matthews was taken out of USC in the first round of the 1978 NFL draft.
Head coach Mike Dantonio has turned the Michigan State Spartans into one of college football's toughest teams recently. Somewhat surprisingly, the Browns have not selected a Spartan since the 1992 draft, when they took DL Bill Johnson (pictured) in the second round. The bulk of the Michigan State's 20 Browns draft picks came from 1952-59, an eight-draft span that saw eleven Spartans taken by the Browns.
Running back Mike Pruitt (1st round, 1976) highlights the lengthy list of former Boilermakers taken by the Browns. It's been a long time since a former Purdue player was drafted by the Browns, though, as the most recent one is DT Marcus Jackson (12th round) in 1980.
The Browns and Buckeyes are connected geographically by a roughly two-hour drive on I-71, but their histories are a bit more intertwined than that. College football's reigning champions have sent a staggering 33 players to the Browns via the draft, a number that stands head and shoulders above the rest on this list. Highlighting the list is HoF Paul Warfield (pictured, 1st round, 1964), as well as DE Jim Houston (1st round, 1960) and DB Dick LeBeau (5th round, 1959). A staggering 24 Buckeyes were selected by the Browns between 1952 and 1965.Most recently, WR Brian Robiske was taken in the second round of the 2009 draft.
