USC Football sending fifth-most players to NFL in 2017

USC Football is sending 12 players to the NFL in 2017, via the draft as well as undrafted free agent signees, ranking sixth among all college football programs.

Now that NFL rookie minicamps are in the rearview mirror, there is a clearer picture of just how many new pros college football programs from around the country have produced.

A user of r/CFB compiled the list of rookies signed in the NFL by college team, with USC Football’s 12 new pros ranking fifth alongside Alabama and Florida.

Utah’s impressive haul of 15 players topped all Pac-12 programs while Michigan sent the most to the NFL with 19 drafted or signed. UCLA added 11 players at sixth nationally.

It should be noted that the Trojans appear on that list with 11 total new players in the NFL, however, the tally does not appear to take Chad Wheeler into account. The offensive lineman recently put pen to paper with the New York Giants, bringing USC’s total of undrafted free agents to seven. Only Michigan and Pittsburgh has had more players sign as undrafted free agents, with eight each.

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USC’s 12 total players added to the pros included five draft picks –which ranked seventh for the 2017 NFL Draft– including first round cornerback Adoree’ Jackson to the Tennessee Titans, wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to the Pittsburgh Steelers, offensive lineman Zach Banner to the Indianapolis Colts, safety Leon McQuay to the Kansas City Chiefs and defensive lineman Stevie Tu’ikolovatu to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

On top of those five, the Trojans undrafted free agent signees include offensive lineman Damien Mama to the Chiefs, receiver Isaac Whitney and offensive lineman Jordan Simmons to the Oakland Raiders, receiver Darreus Rogers to the Seattle Seahawks and running back Justin Davis to the Los Angeles Rams, along with Wheeler.

Even though it wasn’t USC’s biggest draft year in recent memory, the proof of the Trojans’ ability to put players in the pros is still clear.