The state of Florida is one of the nation's biggest hotbeds for football players. Just about every college in the nation comes to Florida for elite high school talent.
But which colleges do the best job of getting players from Florida high schools to the NFL?
The USA TODAY Florida Network broke down the past five drafts to determine which colleges have had the most success with Florida players in the NFL Draft.
And because not all picks are created equally, more weight was given to a first-round pick than a seventh-round pick. USA TODAY gave points for each draft pick on the following scale: 10 points for a first-round pick, eight for a second, six for a third, five for a fourth, three for a fifth, two for a sixth and one point for a seventh.
Here are the top 10 schools getting Florida players to the NFL the past five years:
Just missed the cut: Boston College (18 points), Iowa State (16 points), Texas A&M (16 points), LSU (13 points), Oklahoma (11 points).
Highest drafted player: WR Tutu Atwell (Miami Northwestern, No. 57 overall in 2021)
Atwell, who won a Super Bowl ring with the Los Angeles Rams as a rookie, recently signed a one-year deal to return home and join the Miami Dolphins. Edge rusher Ashton Gillotte (Boca Raton) had a quality rookie year as a backup for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025.
Highest drafted player: DL Calijah Kancey (Miami Northwestern, No. 19 overall in 2023)
Kancey, who missed 14 games in 2025 because of a torn pectoral muscle, is the only Pitt player from Florida to be taken in the first three rounds over the past five years. Kancey started 26 games during his first two seasons, recording 11.5 sacks and 22 tackles for loss.
Highest drafted player: QB JJ McCarthy (IMG, No. 10 overall in 2024)
McCarthy missed his rookie year because of an injury but went 6-4 as a starter in 2025. DJ Turner (IMG) was a second-round pick in 2023. Turner set career highs for interceptions, pass breakups and forced fumbles with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2025.
Highest drafted player: Richie Grant (Choctawhatchee, 40th overall in 2021)
Grant had a couple strong seasons in Atlanta, while RJ Harvey (Edgewater) scored 12 touchdowns as a rookie with the Denver Broncos in 2025. Kalia Davis (West Florida), a sixth-round pick in 2023, is coming off a breakout season with the San Francisco 49ers and signed with the Cleveland Browns as a free agent.
Highest drafted player: Greg Rousseau (Champagnat Catholic, No. 30 overall in 2021)
Rousseau has been solid with the Buffalo Bills, recording 32 sacks and 89 quarterback hits in five seasons. Defensive backs Kamren Kinchens (Miami Northwestern) and Tyrique Stevenson (Miami Southridge) both have had bright moments in the past few seasons. Eight of Miami’s picks were selected in the fifth round or later.
Highest drafted player: CB Asante Samuel Jr. (St. Thomas Aquinas, No. 47 overall in 2021)
The majority of Florida State’s top picks over the past five years have been defensive backs: Samuel, Renardo Green (Wekiva) and Azareye’h Thomas (Niceville). Green started every game he played for the San Francisco 49ers, including both postseason games, in 2025.
Highest drafted player: CB Devon Witherspoon (Pine Forest, No. 5 overall in 2023)
Surprised to see Illinois this high on the list — ahead of both Florida State and Miami? You shouldn’t be. Illinois has done a fantastic job producing quality NFL players from Florida. Witherspoon and Sydney Brown (St. Stephen’s) have both won Super Bowl rings, and Chase Brown (St. Stephens) rushed for 1,000 yards last season.