States with the most recruits taken in the 2025 NFL Draft

After an exciting weekend in Green Bay, the 2025 NFL Draft is in the books.

Over the course of three days, 257 players were selected in all, beginning with No. 1 pick Cam Ward to the Tennessee Titans and ending with Mr. Irrelevant Kobee Minor taken by the New England Patriots with the final selection. In between, hundreds of hopeful prospects saw their dream of hearing their name called come true.

And a handful of states where those players made their mark at the high school level were extremely well represented. Forty-one of the 50 states saw a player from inside their borders selected, with Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wyoming among those who did not.

Below are the top states with the most players selected:

Texas – 37

For the first time since 2022, the Lone Star State led the way with the most high school recruits selected in the draft — and did so by a wide margin. Six Texans were taken in the first round, highlighted by Ward, the No. 1 overall pick who hailed from Columbia High. He was joined by RB Ashton Jeanty (No. 6), OT Kelvin Banks (No. 9), DB Jahdae Barron (No. 20), WR Matthew Golden (No. 23), and OT Donovan Jackson (No. 24).

The 37 total picks were the most for any single state in a decade — dating back to when Florida had 38 in 2015.

Florida – 26

The Sunshine State has jockeyed back and forth Texas for years on which produces the most NFL talent in the draft each year. Florida did in both 2023 and 2024, but saw its numbers drop slightly from 29 to 26 this year. Only one-first round pick played his high school ball in the state and didn’t attend IMG Academy — former Monsignor Pace star Shemar Stewart. The state also continued its 25-year drought of not having a player selected No. 1 overall. And based on the early mock drafts for 2026, that is likely to continue for another year.

Georgia – 22

Despite having a fraction of the populations that Florida and Texas do, Georgia continues to pump out elite high school talent that matriculates to the league. Three Peach State natives were selected in the first round this year, and two of them played at the University of Georgia. The other, WR/DB Travis Hunter, was taken No. 2 overall by the Cleveland Browns. Of eligible states that had players drafted, the state of Georgia had the highest percentage of players drafted relative to its population.

California – 15

California’s day as one of the big three recruiting states look to be a thing of the past, but given the sheer number of people in the state, a lot of NFL players still hail from there. Three of the top 32 picks in this year’s draft call The Golden State home, including wideout Tetairoa McMillan and defensive tackle Mason Graham, who both played at Servite in Anaheim. Known as a hotbed for quarterback talent for more than two decades, the state didn’t have a single passer selected in the draft this year, though.

Virginia, Louisiana – 10

Louisiana has long punched above its weight when it comes to football talent per capita, and the streak continued in the 2025 draft. LSU offensive tackle and No. 4 overall pick Will Campbell carried the torch this year as the lone first-rounder, but three players from the Boot — including a pair of receivers — were taken on Day 2.

Up on the east coast, Virginia has emerged as a strong pool for football talent despite not having a national powerhouse program like neighboring Maryland does with St. Frances Academy. Two players from the Commonwealth were taken in the first-round this year: tight end Tyler Warren and defensive lineman Tyleik Williams.

Other top states with the most 2025 NFL Draft picks

Michigan, South Carolina, Alabama – 9

Maryland, North Carolina – 8

Ohio, New Jersey – 7

Washington, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Kansas, Massachusetts – 5