The 2021 NFL Draft pulled in the second-most viewers during the three-day event, with more than 12.6 million viewers tuning into the first round alone. Last year’s draft saw 15.3 million tune in, thanks to the global pandemic with amid the near-total shutdown of live sports.
Viewers watched as SEC player-after-player was selected as the conference had record-setting and record-tying draft results for conferences and schools. Alabama had 10 players selected overall, with six players getting taken in the first round. It tied a record set by the University of Miami (2004). The reigning national champions help the Southeastern Conference set a record with 65 total players selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The previous mark also was set by the SEC, with 64 in 2019. In fact, the four highest totals of drafted players from one conference belong to the SEC; it had 63 in both 2020 and 2013. This year’s SEC haul included six of the first 10 picks.
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With 10 picks in 2021, Alabama has had 51 players selected over the past five drafts. That ties USC (1973-77) for the most NFL draft picks over any five-year span in the common draft era since 1967.
The next-closest conference in this year’s draft was the ACC, with 51 players drafted, including the No. 1 overall pick, quarterback Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars). The Big 10 had 44 draftees, the Pac-12 had 28 and the Big 12 had 22.
Here’s a complete breakdown of the number of draft picks by school and by conference.
2021 NFL Draft: By Conference
SEC — 65
Big Ten — 44
ACC — 42
Pac-12 — 28
Big 12 — 22
AAC — 19
Independent — 15
Conference USA — 5
FCS — 5
MAC — 4
Mountain West — 3
Sun Belt — 3
Divisions II/III — 4
2021 NFL Draft: By College
Alabama — 10
Ohio State — 10
Georgia — 9
Notre Dame — 9
Florida — 8
Michigan — 8
LSU — 7
Kentucky — 6
Penn State — 6
Pittsburgh — 6
BYU — 5
Clemson — 5
Missouri — 5
North Carolina — 5
Oklahoma — 5
Oregon — 5
Stanford — 5
Texas — 5
UCF — 5
USC — 5
Auburn — 4
Cincinnati — 4
Duke — 4
Florida State — 4
Iowa — 4
Miami (FL) — 4
Oklahoma State — 4
South Carolina — 4
Texas A&M — 4
Virginia Tech — 4
Washington — 4
Houston — 3
Northwestern — 3
Wisconsin — 3
