Few schools in America have produced the level of professional football talent without consistent on-field success of the Boston College Eagles, who currently have 18 alumni on NFL rosters despite having zero seasons with eight or more wins in the last 15 years. A truly confounding stat for those in the Massachusetts sports betting scene.
The Eagles, who have gone 7-6 seven times since that 2009 season (including last year), have somehow managed to put 18 former BC players on current NFL rosters, including defensive back Elijah Jones, who was taken by the Arizona Cardinals with the 90th pick of this year’s draft, and offensive guard Christian Mahogany, who the Detroit Lions selected with the 210th pick in the April event.
Since 2014, 25 BC players have heard their names called in the seven-round draft, including first round picks in 2023 (Zay Flowers), 2022 (Zion Johnson) and 2019 (Chris Lindstrom). Throw in second rounders like A.J. Dillon and Harold Landry and you have a fuller picture of the type of success that the Eagles have had in placing their former players on NFL rosters of late.
Utilizing OverTheCap.com, we found the colleges that have produced the highest average cap hit of their NFL talent that are currently active in the NFL. Only colleges with 10 or more players in the NFL were included.
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Highest Average Cap Hit of NFL Players By College
Rank | College | Average Cap Hit* | # of Players In NFL |
1 | Texas A&M | $8,104,040 | 16 |
2 | Mississippi State | $7,656,353 | 24 |
3 | California | $6,455,477 | 16 |
4 | Clemson | $5,524,722 | 43 |
5 | Alabama | $5,424,370 | 76 |
6 | Oklahoma | $5,298,131 | 47 |
7 | Wyoming | $5,042,613 | 13 |
8 | Boston College | $4,573,934 | 18 |
9 | Ohio State | $4,512,404 | 66 |
10 | Louisville | $4,453,522 | 19 |
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Which BC Alums Have Had Most Success?
Of the 14 BC alums that played in the NFL in 2023-24 season and contributed at least one AV in their pro career, the leader in on-field production overall was veteran safety Justin Simmons, with 65 AV in 118 games (all with the Denver Broncos). Simmons is currently a free agent, but is coming off a season where he hauled in three interceptions and had nine AV in 15 games, upping his career totals to 30 INTs and 65 AV.
Other noteworthy Eagles include Matt Milano of the Bills, who has 57 AV across 90 games, while Falcons offensive lineman Chris Lindstrom and Titans outside linebacker Harold Landry were next up, with 36 AV apiece in their respective pro careers.
All of them chipped into BC’s average salary cap hit of $4,573,934, which ranked as the eighth highest of any FBS program in America, behind No. 7 Wyoming ($5,042,613) and ahead of No. 9 Ohio State ($4,512,404).
Across the country, the FBS team with the highest collective salary cap hit was Texas A&M at $8,104,040, followed by Mississippi State ($7,656,353), Cal-Berkeley ($6,455,477), Clemson ($5,524,722) and Alabama ($5,424,370).
Boston College’s 18 NFL players ranked just behind Louisville’s 19 and ahead of Texas A&M and Cal-Berkeley (16 each) and Wyoming (13 players), but well behind leaders like Alabama (76 players), Ohio State (66 players) and Oklahoma (47 players).
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USA Today photo by Jamie Germano.
Top BC Alums By AV
1. Justin Simmons (FA FS): 65 AV in 118 games
2. Matt Milano (Bills OLB): 57 AV in 90 games
3. Chris Lindstrom (Falcons OL): 36 AV in 71 games/Harold Landry (Titans OLB): 36 AV in 81 games
4. John Johnson (FA S): 32 AV in 103 games
5. AJ Dillon (Packers RB): 24 AV in 60 games
6. Zach Allen (Broncos DL): 23 AV in 62 games
7. Zion Johnson (Lions OG): 14 AV in 32 games/Isaac Yiadom (49ers CB): 14 AV in 87 games
8. Will Harris (Saints S): 13 AV in 81 games
9. Zay Flowers (Ravens WR): 9 AV in 16 games
10. Isaiah McDuffie (Packers LB): 7 AV in 46 games
