Over the past decade, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) has emerged as the premier high school pipeline to the NFL, surpassing St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) for the most draft picks since 2015. Last year alone, IMG saw three players selected—J.C. Latham (1st round), J.J. McCarthy (1st round), and Xavier Thomas (5th round)—bringing their total to 21 draft picks, all since 2018.
St. Thomas Aquinas ranks second with 16 selections, including recent standouts like Dallas Turner (2024), Nick and Joey Bosa, and Asante Samuel Jr. Meanwhile, American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) holds third place with 12 picks, headlined by Patrick Surtain II and Brian Burns.
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) is the only other school with double-digit picks (10), thanks to stars like Rome Odunze (2024) and Ronnie Stanley (2016).
Top High Schools for NFL Draft Picks (2015-2024)
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IMG Academy (Fla.) – 21
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St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) – 16
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American Heritage (Fla.) – 12
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Bishop Gorman (Nev.) – 10
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Allen (Texas), Cass Tech (Mich.), DeMatha (Md.), Northwestern (Fla.) – 8 each
State Dominance
Florida leads all states in producing NFL talent, with Texas, California, Georgia, and Maryland also well-represented. Notably, 168 high schools have had at least three players drafted in the last decade, showcasing the nationwide spread of elite football development.
Notable Alumni
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IMG Academy: Evan Neal, K.J. Hamler, Grant Delpit
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St. Thomas Aquinas: The Bosa brothers, Dallas Turner
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American Heritage: Patrick Surtain II, Sony Michel
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Bishop Gorman: Rome Odunze, Ronnie Stanley
This data highlights how powerhouse high school programs continue to shape the future of the NFL, with IMG Academy currently setting the gold standard.
Which high school do you think will produce the next wave of NFL stars? 🚀🏈
