Posted on April 27, 2023
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In anticipation of the 2023 NFL Draft, here are summary capsules for each Mountain West program and BYU.
They include the number of players drafted all-time, MWC Era picks (and BYU’s since 2000), the highest-ever pick, the most recent and all-time First-Rounders, the number of players taken in 2022, and more.
The 88th NFL draft runs from April 27th through April 29th in Kansas City, Missouri, which is hosting the event for the first time.
How to Watch the 2023 NFL Draft NFL Draft Day 1 (Round 1) NFL Draft Day 2 (Rounds 2-3) NFL Draft Day 3 (Rounds 4-7)
Thursday, 5:00 p.m. PT
TV: ESPN, ABC, NFL Network
Friday, 4:00 p.m. PT
TV: ESPN, ABC, NFL Network
Saturday, 9:00 a.m. PT
TV: ESPN, ABC, NFL Network
Air Force Falcons
| Players Drafted All-Time | 9 |
| MW Era Draft Picks | 2 |
| Highest Pick | Daniel Palmer 178th overall 1997 Chargers |
| Most Recent 1st Rounder | N/A |
| Drafted in 2022 | 1 |
| All-time 1st Rounders | 0 |
| First Rounders in MW Era | 0 |
Three of the nine Falcons drafted have been special teamers—Austin Cutting as a Long Snapper and Joe Wood and Dave Lawson as Kickers
Boise State Broncos
| Players Drafted All-Time | 72 |
| MW Era Draft Picks | 41 |
| Highest Pick | Ryan Clady 12th overall 2008 Broncos |
| Most Recent 1st Rounder | Leighton Vander Esch 19th overall 2018 Cowboys |
| Drafted in 2022 | 1 |
| All-time 1st Rounders | 5 |
| First Rounders in MW Era | 5 |
Boise State has had at least one player selected in every draft since 2010, with 29 total players going in the last 13 drafts. 20 of the 72 Broncos taken in the draft have gone in the opening three rounds.
Colorado State Rams
| Players Drafted All-Time | 106 |
| MW Era Draft Picks | 22 |
| Highest Pick | Gary Glick 1st overall 1956 Steelers |
| Most Recent 1st Rounder | Kelly Stouffer 6th overall 1987 Cardinals |
| Drafted in 2022 | 1 |
| All-time 1st Rounders | 5 |
| First Rounders in MW Era | 0 |
Since 2005 the Rams have had 14 players selected in the draft, 13 of those 14 players have been on the offensive side of the ball.
Fresno State Bulldogs
| Players Drafted All-Time | 110 |
| MW Era Draft Picks | 33 |
| Highest Pick | David Carr 1st overall 2002 Texans |
| Most Recent 1st Rounder | Ryan Matthews 12th overall 2010 Chargers |
| Drafted in 2022 | 1 |
| All-time 1st Rounders | 5 |
| First Rounders in MW Era | 3 |
KeeSean Johnson in 2019 is the only skill position player selected from Fresno State since 2015. The Bulldogs have had 8 QBs drafted. DBs have been drafted the most from Fresno with 27 former Bulldog DBs getting drafted all-time.
Hawaii Rainbows
| Players Drafted All-Time | 72 |
| MW Era Draft Picks | 28 |
| Highest Pick | Ashley Lelie 19th overall 2002 Broncos |
| Most Recent 1st Rounder | Ashley Lelie 19th overall 2002 Broncos |
| Drafted in 2022 | 0 |
| All-time 1st Rounders | 1 |
| First Rounders in MW Era | 1 |
Hawaii has had 10 players selected in the first two rounds of the draft all-time. 8 of those 10 have been since 2000. The most drafted position for UH has been WR, as 11 of the 72 draftees have been receivers.
Nevada Wolfpack
| Players Drafted All-Time | 59 |
| MW Era Draft Picks | 19 |
| Highest Pick | Stan Heath 5th overall 1949 Packers |
| Most Recent 1st Rounder | Al Williams 1984 Lions & Tony Zendejas 1984 Washington |
| Drafted in 2022 | 2 |
| All-time 1st Rounders | 3 |
| First Rounders in MW Era | 0 |
Nevada has had 13 players taken in the NFL Draft since 2011.
New Mexico Lobos
| Players Drafted All-Time | 65 |
| MW Era Draft Picks | 14 |
| Highest Pick | Brian Urlacher 9th overall 2000 Bears |
| Most Recent 1st Rounder | Brian Urlacher |
| Drafted in 2022 | 0 |
| All-time 1st Rounders | 2 |
| First Rounders in MW Era | 1 |
Jason Sanders, taken in the seventh round in 2018 is the only Lobo to have been drafted since 2011. UNM has only had three players selected in the first two rounds.
San Diego State Aztecs
| Players Drafted All-Time | 162 |
| MW Era Draft Picks | 42 |
| Highest Pick | Marshall Faulk 2nd overall 1994 Colts |
| Most Recent 1st Rounder | Rashaad Penny 27th overall 2018 Seahawks |
| Drafted in 2022 | 4 |
| All-time 1st Rounders | 9 |
| First Rounders in MW Era | 1 |
The four Aztecs selected last April were the most since they had four drafted in 2008. At least one player from San Diego State has been drafted in each of the last six years.
San Jose State Spartans
| Players Drafted All-Time | 108 |
| MW Era Draft Picks | 17 |
| Highest Pick | Mark Nichols 16th overall 1981 Lions |
| Most Recent 1st Rounder | Gill Byrd 22nd overall 1983 Chargers |
| Drafted in 2022 | 0 |
| All-time 1st Rounders | 6 |
| First Rounders in MW Era | 0 |
The Spartans have not had a player drafted since 2019 when Josh Oliver went in the Third Round to the Jaguars.
UNLV Rebels
| Players Drafted All-Time | 46 |
| MW Era Draft Picks | 12 |
| Highest Pick | Ickey Woods 31st overall 1988 Bengals |
| Most Recent 1st Rounder | N/A |
| Drafted in 2022 | 0 |
| All-time 1st Rounders | 0 |
| First Rounders in MW Era | 0 |
The last Rebel to get drafted was Joe Hawley in 2010 when he went in the Fourth Round to Atlanta.
Utah State Aggies
| Players Drafted All-Time | 115 |
| MW Era Draft Picks | 17 |
| Highest Pick | Merlin Olsen 3rd overall 1962 Rams |
| Most Recent 1st Rounder | Jordan Love 26th overall 2020 Packers |
| Drafted in 2022 | 0 |
| All-time 1st Rounders | 5 |
| First Rounders in MW Era | 1 |
Jordan Love and Bobby Wagner (Second Round in 2012) are the only Aggies to be selected in the first two rounds since 1980.
Wyoming Cowboys
| Players Drafted All-Time | 87 |
| MW Era Draft Picks | 15 |
| Highest Pick | Josh Allen 7th overall 2018 Bills |
| Most Recent 1st Rounder | Josh Allen |
| Drafted in 2022 | 1 |
| All-time 1st Rounders | 4 |
| First Rounders in MW Era | 1 |
Each of the last three Cowboys to have been selected in the draft has been a linebacker. The defense has produced the last four UW players to get drafted with Josh Allen the last offensive player taken.
BYU Cougars
| Players Drafted All-Time | 150 |
| MW Era Draft Picks | 35 |
| Highest Pick | Steve Young 1st overall 1984 Buccaneers |
| Most Recent 1st Rounder | Zach Wilson 2nd overall 2021 Jets |
| Drafted in 2022 | 1 |
| All-time 1st Rounders | 12 |
| First Rounders since 2000 | 3 |
BYU has had 11 QBs drafted all-time four of those 11 have been First-Rounders with three going in the top five picks. Since 2016, a Cougar has been selected in every draft except for 2020.
Follow Stephen on Twitter @StephenVilardo and his organization @SERCenter. Visit his website at sercstats.com.
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