St. Thomas Aquinas Football: Top NFL Draft pick alumni

While IMG Academy gets much of the attention in the state of Florida when it comes to high school football, St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale demands plenty of its own respect.

The Raiders have consistently been one of the Sunshine State’s top programs, putting out 36 NFL Draft picks in its long history. Among that group is multiple first-round picks and others who have led long careers in the league.

Below are the top alumni and NFL Draft picks to come through St. Thomas Aquinas:

1) EDGE Nick Bosa

Draft Position: 2019 Round 1, Pick 2 (San Francisco 49ers)
College: Ohio State

Bosa was an immediate impact player for Ohio State, playing in all 13 games as a true freshman and recording 29 tackles, seven of which were for a loss, and five sacks. As a sophomore, he was named unanimous First-Team All-Big Ten after totaling 32 total tackles (14.5 for a loss) and a team leading seven sacks. Early in his junior season, Bosa suffered a core muscle injury and ultimately opted to withdraw from Ohio State before forgoing his senior season and entering the NFL Draft.

2) EDGE Joey Bosa

Draft Position: 2016 Round 1, Pick 3 (Los Angeles Chargers)
College: Ohio State

As a true freshman in 2013 for the Buckeyes, Bosa started 10 of 14 games, recording 44 tackles and 7.5 sacks. A year later in 2014, he was named Unanimous First-Team All-American, becoming the 27th Buckeye in 84 years to do so after notching 55 tackles and 13.5 sacks. As a junior, he finished with five sacks and 47 total tackles before announcing his intentions to enter the NFL Draft early.

3) EDGE Dallas Turner

Draft Position: 2024 Round 1, Pick 17 (Minnesota Vikings)
College: Alabama

Turner was named to the SEC’s All-Freshman team in his first year with the Tide in 2021. Over the next two seasons, he amassed 90 total tackles, 22.5 of them for loss, as well as 14 sacks. He was named a Consensus All-American in 2023 and also earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors before declaring early for the NFL Draft.

4) CB Damon Arnette

Draft Position: 2020 Round 1, Pick 19
College: Ohio State

After redshirting as a true freshman due to injury, Arnette played in 13 of Ohio State’s games the following season as a key reserve at defensive back and recorded 21 tackles. He took over a starting role the next year, leading the team’s cornerbacks with 44 tackles with two interceptions and eight passes broken up. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors as a junior and after deciding to return for his senior season, was named second-team All-Big Ten after recording 35 tackles, eight pass breakups and one interception.

5) WR Phillip Dorsett

Draft Position: 2015 Round 1, Pick 29 (Indianapolis Colts)
College: Miami (Fla.)

As a true freshman, Dorsett totaled 14 receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown. He broke out as a sophomore in 2012, starting 10 games and leading the team with 58 receptions for 842 yards and four touchdowns. As a junior in 2013, Dorsett played in only seven games due to a knee injury. But he returned to the Hurricanes for a fourth season, where he started all 13 games and grabbed 36 receptions for 871 yards and 10 touchdowns.

6) WR Elijah Moore

Draft Position: 2021 Round 2, Pick 34 (New York Jets)
College: Ole Miss

Moore made a big impression early in his college career with the Rebels, catching 36 passes for 398 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman. He returned in 2019 and led Ole Miss with 67 receptions, 850 receiving yards and six touchdown catches. As a junior, Moore finished his third season with a school-record 86 receptions for 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns in eight games before opting out of their final few games to prepare for the NFL Draft. He was named both First-Team All-SEC and a consensus First-Team All-American.

7) RB Giovani Bernard

Draft Position: 2013 Round 2, Pick 37 (Cincinnati Bengals)
College: North Carolina

Bernard tore his ACL on the third day of practice as a freshman, causing him to redshirt the 2010 season. The next year, he was named the Tar Heels’ starter and became the first North Carolina running back to rush for at least 100 yards in five straight games since 1984. He finished his sophomore campaign with 1,253 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, to go along with 45 catches for 362 yards. As a junior in 2012, he finished with more than 1,200 rushing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns, 490 receiving yards, five receiving touchdowns, and two punt return touchdowns, cementing himself as an all-time Tar Heel great.

8) CB Lamarcus Joyner

Draft Position: 2014 Round 2, Pick 41 (Los Angeles Rams)
College: Florida State

Joyner played in all 14 games as a freshman and finished with 23 total tackles and an interception. As a sophomore, he earned the starting nod at safety, recording 54 tackles and earning second-team All-ACC honors. He returned to Tallahassee for his junior season, notching 69 tackles with seven tackles for a loss, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and 5.5 sacks while being named a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.

9) CB Asante Samuel Jr.

Draft Position: 2021 Round 2, Pick 47 (Los Angeles Chargers)
College: Florida State

The son of former New England Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel, the younger Asante broke onto the scene in 2019 as a sophomore with ‘Noles. He was named third-team All-ACC as a sophomore after notching 48 tackles and 14 pass breakups. As a junior, he earned first-team All-ACC honors before before being drafted by Los Angeles in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

10) OT Marcus Gilbert

Draft Position: 2011 Round 2, Pick 63 (Pittsburgh Steelers)
College: Florida

Gilbert was a reserve offensive tackle on Gators’ 2006 and 2007 season, eventually starting two games during the 2008 BCS National Championship season. He was elevated to a starting role in 2009, doing so in all 14 games. He returned in 2010 to start all 13 games again while playing both tackle spots.