NFL Players By College: How Does the Pac-12 Stack Up Against Other Conferences?

A lot has been made about tying the SEC's recent dominance of college football to how much they also dominate NFL rosters with alumni. Because this is well true, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at NFL rosters and see just how the Pac-12 stacks up against other conferences in the SEC, not just in the overall percentage of players, but at specific positions and position groups. Through these numbers, it also reveals which specific Pac-12 schools produce the most players at certain positions.

Quarterback

I thought that the Pac-12 would actually be better in this department since it is a league so known for its passing offenses but it actually trails two conferences more known for traditional, smash mouth football. At the moment, USC and Stanford are actually the only Pac-12 schools that have more than one quarterback on an NFL roster.

Conferences

1. SEC 17%

2. Big 10 14%

3. Pac-12 13%

4. ACC 11%

5. Big 12 9%

Pac-12

1. USC (4)

2. Stanford (2)

3. A number of teams have one active QB on rosters and some have none

Running Back

In the reverse of the surprising figures at quarterback, the Pac-12 actually produces more NFL running backs than I thought it would, trailing only the SEC and only by two percentage points. This is largely because of the great production by USC, Cal and Oregon.

Conferences

1. SEC 17%

2. Pac-12 15%

3. ACC 12%

4. Big 10 8%

5. Big 12 7%

Pac-12

1t. USC & Cal - 5

3. Oregon - 4

4t. UCLA, Washington, Washington State & Stanford - 3

Wide Receivers

Not surprising here that the Pac-12 only trails the SEC in production as the conference has had a bevy of talented receivers in the recent past, a bit surprising that Arizona and Stanford are right up there at the top of production in the conference though.

Conferences

1. SEC 14%

2. Pac-12 11.5%

3. Big 10 11%

4. ACC 10%

5. Big 12/MAC/Mountain West 5%

Pac-12

1t USC & Arizona State - 5

3t. Stanford & Cal - 4

5t. UCLA, Arizona & Oregon - 3

Tight Ends

This one is more interesting overall, as it is the only offensive position that the SEC does not dominate, and not only that, trails three other conferences. Not sure why the SEC doesn't produce many tight ends and the Big 10 trounces everyone else, but the Pac-12's dynamic passing offenses are likely why it is the second-leading conference.

Conferences

1. Big 10 19%

2. Pac-12 13%

3. ACC 12%

4. SEC 11%

5. Big 12 5%

Pac-12

1. Stanford - 5

2t. USC, Oregon, Cal & UCLA - 3

Offensive Line

No surprises here, except that I actually thought that the SEC and Big 10 might dominate more. It is always suspected that the Pac-12 struggles a little bit in producing elite linemen, but it is encouraging that the conference is only a little bit behind the SEC and Big 10.

Conferences

1. SEC 15%

2. Big 10 13%

3t. Pac-12 & ACC 11%

5. Big 12 9%

Pac-12

1. USC - 10

2. Cal & Arizona State - 6

4. Oregon - 5

5. Utah, Stanford & Colorado - 4

Defensive Linemen

The SEC's production of defensive linemen is the most impressive figure in all of the numbers and I think holds the biggest key to why the conference wins the national championship year after year. When you have such an advantage at stopping people up front piled on top of their dominance of offensive linemen, they simply can bully other conferences up front.

Conferences

1. SEC 20%

2. Pac-12 & Big 10 13%

4. ACC 11%

5. Big 12 6%

Pac-12

1. USC - 11

2. Cal & Utah - 7

4. UCLA - 6

5. Oregon - 5

Linebacker

Interesting that the ACC rises above all the other conferences in producing linebackers and I can't think of any reason why. Not surprising that the Pac-12 trails the ACC and SEC here and is neck-and-neck with the Big 10 who I thought might be better since they have schools like Penn State and Ohio State with great linebacker traditions.

Conferences

1. ACC 16%

2. SEC 14%

3. Pac-12 & Big 10 11%

5. Big 12 7%

Pac-12

1. USC - 8

2. Arizona State - 6

3. Cal - 5

4. UCLA - 4

5. Arizona & Oregon - 3

Defensive Backs

I would expect the Pac-12 to produce a good amount of defensive backs with how much the conference's cornerbacks and safeties are tested in the passing game. Interesting though that Oregon State and Utah produce more than everyone else in the conference though.

Conferences

1. SEC 15%

2. Pac-12 12%

3. Big 10 & ACC 10%

5. Big 12 8%

Pac-12

1. Oregon State & Utah - 7

3. Cal & Oregon - 6

5. Stanford, Arizona, UCLA & USC - 4

Kicker & Punter

Conferences

Not the most interesting position group, but this is actually the one the Pac-12 is closest to holding the top spot in, just narrowly getting beaten out by the Big 12.

1. Big 10 15%

2. Pac-12 14%

3. SEC 13%

4. ACC 11%

5. Big 12 9%

Pac-12

1. Cal - 3

2. UCLA & Washington State - 2