SEC Football by the Numbers is looking at the 2025 NFL Draft in four parts. Monday’s initial installment examined the first round. Today, it’s a breakdown by positions. On Wednesday, NFL teams will be the focus. And on Thursday, some stats and streaks about the conference and the draft will lead into this year’s first round of picks that night.

2 Consecutive drafts have featured an Alabama player as the first linebacker selected and three consecutive drafts have featured an SEC player as the first linebacker chosen. Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell is considered a candidate to become the first linebacker picked in the 2025 draft. Seventeen drafts have featured an SEC player as the first linebacker chosen. The SEC players who have been the first linebacker selected include:

• Alabama’s Dallas Turner (chosen 17th by the Minnesota Vikings in 2004)
• Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. (third by the Houston Texans in 2023)
• Georgia’s Quay Walker (22nd by the Green Bay Packers in 2022)
• LSU’s Devin White (fifth by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019)
• Georgia’s Roquan Smith (eighth by the Chicago Bears in 2018)
• Georgia’s Leonard Floyd (ninth by the Chicago Bears in 2016)
• Florida’s Dante Fowler (third by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2015)
• Georgia’s Jarvis Jones (17th by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2013)
• Alabama’s Rolando McClain (eighth by the Oakland Raiders in 2010)
• Ole Miss’ Patrick Willis (11th by the San Francisco 49ers in 2007)
• Alabama’s Keith McCants (fourth by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1990)
• Alabama’s Derrick Thomas (fourth by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1989)
• Auburn’s Aundray Bruce (first by the Atlanta Falcons in 1988)
• Alabama’s Cornelius Bennett (second by the Indianapolis Colts in 1987)
• Mississippi State’s Johnie Cooks (second by the Indianapolis Colts in 1982)
• Alabama’s Lee Roy Jordan (sixth by the Dallas Cowboys in 1963)
• Georgia’s Dave Lloyd (47th by the Cleveland Browns in 1959)

2 Arkansas wide receivers have been chosen in the past 12 NFL drafts, while two Razorbacks wide receivers could be selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. Since Joe Adams and Jarius Wright went in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, Arkansas has had only two wide receivers drafted – Cobi Hamilton in 2013 and Treylon Burks in 2022. Arkansas WRs Isaac TeSlaa and Andrew Armstrong are considered draft possibilities this week.

3 NFL drafts have included a quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end from the same SEC program, a feat that Texas could duplicate this year with QB Quinn Ewers, RB Jaydon Blue, WRs Isaiah Bond and Matthew Golden and TE Gunnar Helm. In 1990, LSU had QB Tommy Hodson, RB Eddie Fuller, WR Tony Moss and TE Ronnie Haliburton drafted. Arkansas had QB Tyler Wilson, RB Knile Davis, WR Cobi Hamilton and TE Chris Gragg as its only four picks in the 2013 draft. In 2020, LSU had QB Joe Burrow, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, WR Justin Jefferson and TE Stephen Sullivan drafted.

6 Consecutive NFL drafts have featured a tight end from Georgia. During that time, the other 13 SEC programs have had nine tight ends chosen. This week, LSU’s Mason Taylor, Texas’ Gunnar Helm, South Carolina’s Joshua Simon and Alabama’s C.J. Dippre are considered the SEC tight ends who will be drafted, with Georgia’s Ben Yurosek deemed a longer shot.

9 SEC players have been the first offensive lineman selected in an NFL Draft. LSU OT Will Campbell or Missouri OT Armand Membou is likely to fill that position in the 2025 draft. The SEC players who have been the first offensive linemen selected in the draft are:

• Georgia OT Andrew Thomas (chosen fourth by the New York Giants in 2020)
• Alabama OT Jonah Williams (11th by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2019)
• Auburn OT Greg Robinson (second by the St. Louis Rams in 2014)
• Alabama OT Chris Samuels (third by the Washington Redskins in 2000)
• Georgia OT Bernard Williams (14th by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1994)
• Tennessee OT Charles McRae (seventh by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1991)
• Tennessee T Steve Delong (sixth by the Chicago Bears in 1965)
• Ole Miss T Jim Dunaway (third by the Minnesota Vikings in 1963)
• Alabama C Vaughn “Cisco” Mancha (fifth by the New York Yanks in 1948).

Neither Delong nor Dunaway really belongs on the list. They were two-way stars in college who were defensive linemen in the NFL.

11 SEC players have been the first defensive back selected in an NFL Draft, with Texas CB Jahdae Barron considered a candidate to earn that honor this year. The SEC players who have been the first defensive back selected are:

• LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr. (chosen third by the Houston Texans in 2022)
• South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn (eighth by the Carolina Panthers in 2021)
• LSU’s Jamal Adams (sixth by the New York Jets in 2017)
• Alabama’s Dee Milliner (ninth by the New York Jets in 2013)
• LSU’s Morris Claiborne (sixth by the Dallas Cowboys in 2012)
• LSU’s Patrick Peterson (fifth in 2011 by the Arizona Cardinals in 2011)
• Tennessee’s Eric Berry (fifth by the Kansas Ctiy Chiefs in 2010)
• LSU’s LaRon Landry (sixth by the Washington Redskins in 2007)
• Georgia’s Champ Bailey (seventh by the Washington Redskins in 1999)
• Alabama’s Antonio Langham (ninth by the Cleveland Browns in 1994)
• LSU’s Johnny Robinson (third by the Detroit Lions in 1960)

A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame because of his play at safety, Robinson spent his first two pro seasons as a halfback/flanker for the Dallas Texans of the AFL before changing sides of the ball.

The list includes only players designated as a DB by their drafting team. Many SEC players from the days of two-way college football were listed merely as B for back and went on to play defensive back in the NFL.

13 Consecutive NFL drafts have included at least one Alabama defensive back. That’s the longest current draft streak for one position from one school in the SEC. S Malachi Moore is the candidate to keep the Alabama streak going in the 2025 draft. Three Crimson Tide defensive backs were chosen in the 2024 NFL Draft for the second year in a row – Terrion Arnold, Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry and Jaylen Key. The other defensive backs drafted in the streak include Mark Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick, DeQuan Menzie, Dee Milliner, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Vinnie Sunseri, Landon Collins, Cyrus Jones, Marlon Humphrey, Eddie Jackson, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ronnie Harrison, Anthony Averett, Deionte Thompson, Xavier McKinney, Trevon Diggs, Patrick Surtain II, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Jordan Battle, Brian Branch and DeMarcco Hellams. The 2011 draft is the most recent without an Alabama defensive back.

13 Consecutive first rounds have featured at least one SEC linebacker, with the selection of Alabama’s Dallas Turner by the Minnesota Vikings with the 17th pick in 2024 extending the streak. The most recent draft without an SEC linebacker I the first round occurred in 2011. Since then, the other SEC players drafted in the first round as linebackers have included Alabama’s Dont’a Hightower, C.J. Mosley, Reuben Foster, Rashaan Evans and Will Anderson Jr.; Auburn’s Dee Ford, Florida’s Dante Fowler and Jarrad Davis, Georgia’s Alec Ogletree, Jarvis Jones, Leonard Floyd, Roquan Smith and Quay Walker; Kentucky’s Bud Dupree, Josh Allen and Jamin Davis; LSU’s Barkevious Mingo, Devin White and Patrick Queen; and Missouri’s Charles Harris.

22 NFL drafts have passed since South Carolina had five defensive players selected in the same year. S Nick Emmanwori, LB Demetrius King Jr., DT T.J. Sanders and DE Kyle Kennard are considered certainties for the 2025 draft. If DT Tonka Hemingway joins them, the Gamecocks would have five defensive players picked in the same draft for the first time since 2002, when DEs Kalimba Edwards and John Stamper and DBs Sheldon Brown, Andre Goodman and Willie Offord were chosen. Edwards and Goodman went to the Detroit Lions in the second and third rounds, respectively.

28 NFL drafts have passed since a Mississippi State wide receiver has been picked. The most recent wide receiver drafted from MSU is Eric Moulds, who went to the Buffalo Bills as the 24th selection in 1996. Every other SEC program has had at least one wide receiver selected since 2014, and 164 SEC wide receivers have been drafted since Moulds. Mississippi State is not likely to have a wide receiver drafted this week.

30 NFL drafts have passed since Florida had two wide receivers and one running back selected in the same year, which could happen this week with WRs Elijah Baker and Chimere Duke and RB Montrell Johnson Jr. as draft possibilities. In 1994, Florida RB Errict Rhett and WRs Willie Jackson and Harrison Houston were chosen in the NFL Draft.

38 NFL drafts have passed since a Vanderbilt tight end has been picked. That’s the longest position drought for one program in the SEC when the players are divided into quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive linemen, defensive linemen, linebackers and defensive backs. The most recent Vanderbilt tight end to enter the NFL via the draft is Jim Popp, who went to the San Francisco 49ers in the eighth round in 1986. Seventy-eight SEC tight ends have been drafted since Popp. Vanderbilt is not expected to have a tight end drafted this week.

53 NFL drafts have passed since Ole Miss had a quarterback and a wide receiver selected in the same year, which will happen this week with QB Jaxson Dart and WR Tre Harris set to be picked. In 1971, the New Orleans Saints chose Ole Miss QB Archie Manning with the second selection of the draft. In the 11th round, the New York Jets picked Ole Miss WR Vernon Studdard, and one round later, the Denver Broncos chose Rebels WR Floyd Franks.

89 NFL drafts – every one of them – has included at least one SEC offensive lineman and one SEC running back. The last time there was an NFL Draft without an SEC defensive back was 1947, without an SEC linebacker was 1953, without an SEC wide receiver was 1970, without an SEC defensive lineman was 1980, without an SEC tight end was 2005 and without an SEC quarterback was 2015.

This look at the SEC’s draft numbers includes only players picked in the regular NFL Draft — no special supplemental, expansion, non-NFL or separate dispersal drafts are included in the tabulations. For Arkansas and South Carolina, which joined the league in 1992, the numbers include players drafted since 1993, unless noted. For former member Georgia Tech, players drafted from 1936 to 1964 are included. For former member Tulane, it’s through the 1966 draft. Missouri and Texas A&M have provided SEC players for the past 12 drafts. Former SEC member Sewanee has had one player drafted — RB William Johnson by the Falcons in 1966, long after the school left the conference following the 1940 season.

The NFL Draft starts on Thursday with the first round. The second and third rounds are set for Friday, with the remaining four rounds on Saturday. ABC, ESPN and NFL Network will televise the draft, starting at 7 p.m. CDT Thursday, 6 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.