The 2026 NFL Draft is begins tonight in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at at Acrisure Stadium and will last until Saturday. Expectations across the board point to the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 1 pick selecting former Miami (Fla.) Columbus quarterback Fernando Mendoza as their selection.
Before that happens, where did the previous 96 No. 1 picks play their high school football before landing as the cornerstone for an NFL franchise? High School Football America collected every No. 1 pick since 1936 with where each football player went to high school for their prep career and we also added a state-by-state breakdown of how many picks came from each one. As we come up on tonight’s No. 97 all-time No. 1 pick in league history, take a look at each player, state and high school:
2025: Cam Ward, QB, West Columbia (TX) Columbia — Tennessee Titans2024: Caleb Williams, QB, Washington (DC) Gonzaga — Chicago Bears2023: Bryce Young, QB, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei — Carolina Panthers2022: Travon Walker, LB, Thomaston (GA) Upson-Lee — Jacksonville Jaguars2021: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Cartersville (GA) Cartersville — Jacksonville Jaguars2020: Joe Burrow, QB, The Plains (Ohio) Athens — Cincinnati Bengals2019: Kyler Murray, QB, Allen (TX) Allen — Arizona Cardinals2018: Baker Mayfield, QB, Austin (TX) Lake Travis — Cleveland Browns2017: Myles Garrett, DE, Arlington (TX) Martin — Cleveland Browns2016: Jared Goff, QB, Kentfield (California) Marin Catholic — Los Angeles Rams2015: Jameis Winston, QB, Hueytown (Ala.) Hueytown — Tampa Bay Buccaneers2014: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, Rock Hill (SC) South Pointe — Houston Texans2013: Eric Fisher, OT, Rochester Hills (Mich.) Stoney Creek — Kansas City Chiefs2012: Andrew Luck, QB, Stratford (TX) Stratford — Indianapolis Colts2011: Cam Newton, QB, Atlanta (GA) Westlake — Carolina Panthers2010: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma City (OK) Putnam City North — St. Louis Rams2009: Matthew Stafford, QB, Dallas (TX) Highland Park — Detroit Lions2008: Jake Long, OT, Lapeer (Mich.) Lapeer North — Miami Dolphins2007: JaMarcus Russell, QB, Mobile (Ala.) Williamson — Oakland Raiders2006: Mario Williams, DE, Hoffman Forest (NC) Richlands — Houston Texans2005: Alex Smith, QB, La Mesa (Calif.) Helix — San Francisco 49ers2004: Eli Manning, QB, New Orleans (La.) Isidore Newman — San Diego Chargers2003: Carson Palmer, QB, Rancho Santa Margarita (Calif.) Santa Margarita Catholic — Cincinnati Bengals2002: David Carr, QB, Sugar Land (TX) Clements — Houston Texans2001: Michael Vick, QB, (VA.) Ferguson — Atlanta Falcons2000: Courtney Brown, DE, (South Carolina) Macedonia — Cleveland Browns1999: Tim Couch, QB, Hyden (Ky.) Leslie County — Cleveland Browns1998: Peyton Manning, QB, New Orleans (La.) Isidore Newman — Indianapolis Colts1997: Orlando Pace, OT, Sandusky (Ohio) Sandusky — St. Louis Rams1996: Keyshawn Johnson, WR, Los Angeles (Calif.) Dorsey — New York Jets1995: Ki-Jana Carter, RB, Westerville (Ohio) Westerville South — Cincinnati Bengals1994: Dan Wilkinson, DT, Dayton (Ohio) Dunbar — Cincinnati Bengals1993: Drew Bledsoe, QB, Walla Walla (Wash.) Walla Walla — New England Patriots1992: Steve Emtman, DT, Cheney (Washington) Cheney — Indianapolis Colts1991: Russell Maryland, DT, Chicago (IL) Whitney Young — Dallas Cowboys1990: Jeff George, QB, Indinapolis (IN) Warren Central — Indianapolis Colts1989: Troy Aikman, QB, Henryetta (OK) Henryetta — Dallas Cowboys1988: Aundray Bruce, LB, Montgomery (Ala.) Carver — Atlanta Falcons1987: Vinny Testaverde, QB, Floral Park (NY) Sewanhaka — Tampa Bay Buccaneers1986: Bo Jackson, RB, McCalla (Ala.) McAdory — Tampa Bay Buccaneers1985: Bruce Smith, DE, Norfolk (Virginia) B. T. Washington — Buffalo Bills1984: Irving Fryar, WR, Mount Holly (NJ) Rancocas Valley Reg H — New England Patriots1983: John Elway, QB, Granada Hills (Calif.) Granada Hills — Baltimore Colts1982: Kenneth Sims, DT, Groesbeck (TX) Groesbeck — New England Patriots1981: George Rogers, RB, Duluth (GA) Duluth — New Orleans Saints1980: Billy Sims, RB, Hooks (TX) Hooks — Detroit Lions1979: Tom Cousineau, LB, Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward — Buffalo Bills1978: Earl Campbell, RB, Tyler (TX) John Tyler — Houston Oilers1977: Ricky Bell, RB, Sunnyvale (Calif.) Fremont — Tampa Bay Buccaneers1976: Lee Roy Selmon, DE, Eufaula (OK) Eufaula — Tampa Bay Buccaneers1975: Steve Bartkowski, QB, (California) Buchser — Atlanta Falcons1974: Ed “Too Tall” Jones, DE, Jackson (Tenn.) Jackson Central-Merry — Dallas Cowboys1973: John Matuszak, DE, Oak Creek (Wis.) Oak Creek — Houston Oilers1972: Walt Patulski, DT, Syracuse (NY) Christian Brothers Academy — Buffalo Bills1971: Jim Plunkett, QB, San Jose (Calif.) James Lick — New England Patriots1970: Terry Bradshaw, QB, Shreveport (La.) Woodlawn — Pittsburgh Steelers1969: O.J. Simpson, RB, San Francisco (Calif.) Galileo — Buffalo Bills1968: Ron Yary, OT, Bellflower (Calif.) Bellflower — Minnesota Vikings1967: Bubba Smith, DE, Beaumont (TX) Charlton-Pollard — Baltimore Colts1966 (AFL): Jim Grabowski, RB, Chicago (IL) Taft — Miami Dolphins1966 (NFL): Tommy Nobis, LB, San Antonio (TX) Jefferson — Atlanta Falcons1965 (AFL): Lawrence Elkins, WR, Brownwood (TX) Brownwood — Houston Oilers1965 (NFL): Tucker Frederickson, RB, Hollywood (Florida) South Broward — New York Giants1964 (AFL): Jack Concannon, QB, Cambridge (Mass.) Matignon — Boston Patriots1964 (NFL): Dave Parks, WR, Abilene (TX) Abilene — San Francisco 49ers1963 (AFL): Buck Buchanan, DT, Birmingham (Ala.) Parker — Kansas City Chiefs1963 (NFL): Terry Baker, QB, Jefferson (Oregon) Jefferson — Los Angeles Rams1962 (AFL): Roman Gabriel, QB, Wilmington (NC) New Hanover — Oakland Raiders1962 (NFL): Ernie Davis, RB, Elmira (NY) Elmira Free Academy — Washington Redskins1961 (AFL): Ken Rice, G, Bainbridge (Ga.) Bainbridge — Buffalo Bills1961 (NFL): Tommy Mason, RB, Lake Charles (La.) Lake Charles College Prep — Minnesota Vikings1960: Billy Cannon, RB, Baton Rogue (La.) Istrouma — Los Angeles Rams1959: Randy Duncan, QB, Des Moines (IA) Roosevelt — Green Bay Packers1958: King Hill, QB, Freeport (Texas) Brazosport — Chicago Cardinals1957: Paul Hornung, HB, Louisville (Ky.) Flaget — Green Bay Packers1956: Gary Glick, DB, Fort Collins (CO) Poudre — Pittsburgh Steelers1955: George Shaw, QB, Denton (Texas) Denton — Baltimore Colts1954: Bobby Garrett, QB, South Pasadena (Calif.) South Pasadena Senior — Cleveland Browns1953: Harry Babcock, E, Pearl River (NY) Pearl River — San Francisco 49ers1952: Bill Wade, QB, Nashville (Tenn.) Montgomery Bell Academy — Los Angeles Rams1951: Kyle Rote, HB, San Antonio (TX) Thomas Jefferson — New York Giants1950: Leon Hart, E, (Pa.) Turtle Creek — Detroit Lions1949: Chuck Bednarik, C/LB, (Pa.) Bethlehem Liberty — Philadelphia Eagles1948: Harry Gilmer, QB, Birmingham (Ala.) Woodlawn — Washington Redskins1947: Bob Fenimore, HB, Woodward (OK) Woodward — Chicago Bears1946: Frank Dancewicz, QB, Lynn (Mass.) Classical — Boston Yanks1945: Charley Trippi, HB, Pittston (Pa.) Pittston Area — Chicago Cardinals1944: Angelo Bertelli, QB, Springfield (Mass.) Springfield Catholic — Boston Yanks1943: Frank Sinkwich, HB, Youngstown (Ohio) Chaney — Detroit Lions1942: Bill Dudley, HB, Bluefield (Va.) Graham — Pittsburgh Steelers1941: Tom Harmon, HB, (IN) Mann — Chicago Bears1940: George Cafego, HB, Oak Hill (WV) Oak Hill — Chicago Cardinals1939: Ki Aldrich, C, Temple (TX) Temple — Chicago Cardinals1938: Corbett Davis, FB, Lowell (IN) Lowell Senior — Cleveland Rams1937: Sam Francis, FB, Oberlin (KS) Decatur Community — Philadelphia Eagles1936: Jay Berwanger, HB, Dubuque (IA) Dubuque Senior — Philadelphia Eagles
Texas: 18 California: 12 Ohio: 6 Alabama: 6 Georgia: 5 Louisiana: 5 Oklahoma: 4 New York: 4 Virginia: 3 Indiana: 3 Massachusetts: 3 Pennsylvania: 3 South Carolina: 2 Michigan: 2 North Carolina: 2 Kentucky: 2 Washington: 2 Illinois: 2 Tennessee: 2 Iowa: 2 Washington, D.C.: 1 New Jersey: 1 Wisconsin: 1 Florida: 1 Oregon: 1 Colorado: 1 West Virginia: 1 Kansas: 1
For national high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals National High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the state, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals National High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the gridiron excitement across the country.