Will McDonald IV can do something no Iowa State Cyclone has done in 50 years. He can hear his name called in the first round of the NFL Draft.
The powerful pass rusher is a late Day 1 prospect who’d make history if he can find a place in the first 31 selections. He’d be the first ISU alum to earn an official first round grade since George Amundson was selected 14th overall in 1973.
There’s no other program among the Power Five schools — teams who play in either the Big Ten, ACC, Pac-12, Big 12 or SEC conferences — with a drought that even approaches the Cyclones. The only other school to be shut out this millennium is Indiana, and even the Hoosiers have 21 years on Iowa State.
What about the rest of college football’s highest profile teams? Here’s the last time each of the 65 Power 5 programs — including new Big 12 additions Cincinnati, BYU, Central Florida and Houston as well as Notre Dame — produced a first-round draft pick.
Last first round draft pick: 2022
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Boston College
- Cincinnati*
- Florida
- Florida State
- Georgia
- Iowa
- LSU
- Michigan
- Mississippi State
- NC State
- Notre Dame**
- Ohio State
- Oregon
- Penn State
- Pittsburgh
- Purdue
- Texas A&M
- USC
- Utah
- Washington
*Cincinnati will join the Big 12 in 2023
**Notre Dame is an independent, but also Notre Dame (and a member of the ACC in most sports). The Irish qualify.
Last first round draft pick: 2021
- BYU*
- Clemson
- Houston*
- Kentucky
- Miami (FL)
- Minnesota
- Northwestern
- South Carolina
- UCLA
- Virginia Tech
*Like Cincinnati, BYU and Houston will join the Big 12 in 2023.
Last first round draft pick: 2020
- Arizona State
- Auburn
- Louisville
- Oklahoma
- TCU
- Texas Tech
Last first round draft pick: 2019
- Duke
- Maryland
- Michigan State
- Washington State
Last first round draft pick: 2018
- Central Florida*
- North Carolina
*UCF will join the Big 12 in 2023.
Last first round draft pick: 2017
- Missouri
- Ole Miss
- Stanford
- Tennessee
- Wisconsin
Last first round draft pick: 2016
- Baylor
- California
- West Virginia
Last first round draft pick: 2015
- Texas
- Wake Forest
Last first round draft pick: 2014
- Oklahoma State
- Oregon State
Last first round draft pick: 2013
- Syracuse
Last first round draft pick: 2012
- Illinois
Last first round draft pick: 2011
- Colorado
- Nebraska
Last first round draft pick: 2010
- Georgia Tech
- Rutgers
Last first round draft pick: 2009
- Kansas State
- Virginia
Last first round draft pick: 2008
- Arizona
- Kansas
- Vanderbilt
Last first round draft pick: 1994
- Indiana
Last first round draft pick: 1973
- Iowa by-god State
