UGA’s Mark Richt fourth among active coaches with 74 players drafted

April 11, 2015 Athens - Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt watches their 2015 Georgia Bulldogs G-Day game at Sanford Stadium in Athens on Saturday, April 11, 2015. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

April 11, 2015 Athens - Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt watches their 2015 Georgia Bulldogs G-Day game at Sanford Stadium in Athens on Saturday, April 11, 2015. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM
UGA coach Mark Richt has had great success in sending players to the NFL. (AP photo)

icon to expand image

UGA coach Mark Richt has had great success in sending players to the NFL. (AP photo)

If you want to reach the NFL, it might pay off to play for one of these guys.

Steve Spurrier has sent 100 players to the NFL, the most of any active college football coach, according to research by Athlon Sports.

"I've got 100 drafted since I've been a coach?" Spurrier told The (Columbia) State. "I'll be danged."

Here is the top 10. See if you recognize any of them.

  • Frank Beamer, 92 players
  • Nick Saban, 82
  • Mark Richt, 74
  • Bob Stoops, 70
  • Les Miles, 67
  • Kirk Ferentz, 55
  • Bill Snyder, 50
  • Larry Coker, 47
  • Urban Meyer, 44

Of the 82 players who Saban has sent to the NFL, 41 have played for him at Alabama. He’s also coached at Michigan State and LSU.

Saban has had 21 first-round picks to lead the group. Of Richt’s picks, 11 have been first-rounders, tying Meyer for sixth among active coaches.

Spurrier has coached (Duke, Florida and South Carolina) for 25 years. His autobiography will be published next year.

“I don’t know what it says. I know you have to have good players to win, we all know that,” Spurrier told the newspaper. “We have had our share of a lot of good players, that’s for sure.”

Former Penn State coach Joe Paterno leads the all-time list with 251, followed by former FSU coach Bobby Bowden (182), Mack Brown (101) and Phillip Fulmer (92).