Press Article: Mountain West Conference Shines in NFL Quarterback Drafts
In a deep dive into the history of NFL drafts, an interesting revelation emerged regarding Mountain West (MW) Conference schools and their production of quarterbacks. Surprising data reveals that Utah State and San Diego State lead the pack, with each institution having ten quarterbacks selected in the NFL Draft over the years.
The list of drafted quarterbacks from MW schools includes notable names such as Jordan Love and Brent Snyder from Utah State, and Ryan Lindley and Kevin O’Connell from San Diego State. Following closely are Fresno State and Colorado State, each boasting eight drafted quarterbacks. Institutions like San Jose State and Nevada also merit recognition for their contributions to NFL talent, contributing six and five quarterbacks, respectively.
Across all MW schools, a total of 63 quarterbacks have been picked in the NFL Draft. However, the elite of these players stand out. Only 12 quarterbacks have logged at least 30 starts in the NFL, a measure of their significance in professional football.
Leading this group is the recently retired Derek Carr from Fresno State, who tallied 169 NFL starts. Other notable names include Steve DeBerg (SJSU, 140 starts) and Randall Cunningham (UNLV, 135 starts). While Carr holds the top spot, Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen, with 110 consecutive starts, is on track to surpass him.
With three quarterbacks boasting at least 30 NFL starts, and eight drafted overall, Fresno State emerges as the premier institution for producing NFL quarterbacks. However, the unexpected strong showings from Utah State and San Diego State add an intriguing twist to the narrative, highlighting the MW’s robust quarterback lineage.
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