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There is has been much talk about where the “Football Hotbed” is located in the world.  What area produces the most talent when it comes to the American gridiron?  If you are a college football coach, where could one find such talent that could essentially change the perception of your program or maintain dominance?  If you ask Twitter, many seem to have an opinion on the subject, but we break it down to reveal what state is “The” Football Hotbed.

As far as colleges are concerned, no school can claim that they are the football hotbed over LSU in 2020. Not only did the Tigers walk away with the national championship and Heisman trophies, but the Bayou Bengals also had 14 total players drafted which tied the record with the 2014 Ohio State Buckeyes.

Now let’s look at the facts! The first three rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft will be one of our bases to determine the football hotbed of the universe. We know many teams choose players based on need, so the first three rounds provide an idea as to where the most talented football athletes are bred from the college football level.   

According to pro-football-reference.com, 53% of all players drafted in the first round are deemed successful.  They use a metric known as the ‘approximate value’ which vaguely indicates a player’s success from the position in which they were drafted.  Generally picks 1-5 overall have a 77% chance of success and 6-32 have approximately a 50% chance of a successful career.

Probably a more accurate indicator of talent coming from a certain region is pro bowl selections. Of last year’s pro bowlers 13 were selected after the third round and 11 went undrafted. The majority of the best players are selected in the first 100 picks of the NFL draft.  

In order to determine what area can be designated as the current football hotbed, I examined where the 2020 pro bowlers and the first 106 picks (The first 3 rounds) played the majority of their high school football.  Each pro bowl selection = 5 points, 1st round selection = 3 points, 2nd round = 2 points, and 3rd round  = 1 point.  Based on that tally we determined the states that are truly football hotbeds based on the elite talent exemplified on the college and NFL football fields.

Texas led the way with 33 total draft picks in the 2020 draft with California coming in second with 23, Florida third with 22, Georgia fourth with 21, and Louisiana fifth with 12.

The high school appearing the most on this list which again is based on the 2020 pro bowl team and the 2020 draft picks selected in the first three rounds were St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale with four players.

Top Ten Football Hotbeds

1. Texas (Composite score = 92 ) 

Texas had the strongest first round of the NFL draft with 7 selections coming from Lone Star state and with 10 pro bowl selections including the Super Bowl MVP in Patrick Mahomes it is easy to see why Texas is leading the pack of elite football players.

Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

Pro Bowlers: 10

Jamal Adams (Hebron, Carrollton)

Drew Brees (Westlake, Austin)

Mike Evans (Ball, Galveston)

Danielle Hunter (Morton Ranch, Katy)

Lane Johnson (Groveton)

Patrick Mahomes (Whitehouse)

Von Miller (DeSoto)

Ryan Tannehill (Big Spring)

Earl Thomas (West Orange-Stark, Orange)

Justin Tucker (Westlake, Austin)

Notable Draft Picks:

Jordyn Brooks (Stratford, Houston)

K’lavon Chaisson (North Shore, Galena Park)

Jeff Gladney (New Boston)

CeeDee Lamb (Foster, Fort Bend County)

Kenneth Murray (Elkins, Missouri City)

Jeff Okudah (South Grand Prairie)

Jalen Reagor (Waxahachie)

2. California (Composite Score = 86)

The Green Bay Packers traded up with the Miami Dolphins to select the only California kid drafted in the first round in Jordan Love out of Utah State.  The draft as a whole was not a particularly strong one from Cali but the most pro bowl selections from one state are what carried them to the number 2 ranking on this list.

Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers

Pro Bowlers: 15

Davante Adams (Palo Alto)

David Bakhtiari (Junipero Serra, San Mateo)

Joel Bitonio (Woodrow Wilson Classical, Long Beach)

Jurrell Casey (Long Beach Polytechnic)

Kenny Clark (Carter, Rialto)

Zach Ertz (Monte Vista, Danville)

Austin Hooper (De La Salle, Concord)

Eric Kendricks (Herbert Hoover, Fresno)

Marcus Peters (McClymonds, Oakland)

Aaron Rodgers (Pleasant Valley, Chico)

Richard Sherman (Dominguez, Compton)

Matthew Slater (Servite, Anaheim)

Tyron Smith (Rancho Verde, Moreno Valley)

Michael Thomas (William Howard Taft, Woodland Hills)

Bobby Wagner (Colony, Ontario)

Notable Draft Picks:

Devin Asiasi (De La Salle, Concord)

Terrell Burgess (San Marcos)

Ashtyn Davis (Santa Cruz)

Josiah Deguara (Folsom)

Jaylon Johnson (Central, Fresno)

Jordan Love (Liberty, Bakersfield)

Michael Pittman Jr. (Oaks Christian, Westlake Village)

3. Florida (Composite Score = 73)

Compared to previous years, this was not an overwhelmingly strong showing in the 2020 NFL draft.  Only four players from the sunshine state were drafted in the second and third rounds but a tremendous presence in the league still confirms that Florida is among the nation’s elite.  Lamar Jackson is the second player in NFL history to be awarded a unanimous MVP award with Tom Brady and South Florida alone (Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach County) has 13 appearances on this list.

Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens

Pro Bowlers: 12

Geno Atkins (St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale)

Joey Bosa (St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale)

Nick Bosa (St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale)

Dalvin Cook (Miami Central)

Amari Cooper (Miami Northwestern)

Derrick Henry (Yulee)

Eddie Jackson (Boyd Anderson, Lauderdale Lakes)

Lamar Jackson (Boynton Beach)

Khalil Mack (Westwood, Fort Pierce)

Maurkice Pouncey (Lakeland)

Xavier Rhodes (Miami Norland)

Laremy Tunsil (Columbia, Lake City)

Notable Draft Picks:

Damon Arnette (St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale)

Darrynton Evans (New Smyrna Beach)

CJ Henderson (Columbus, Miami)

Jerry Jeudy (Deerfield Beach)

Zack Moss (Hallandale)

Josh Uche (Columbus, Miami)

4. Georgia (Composite Score = 71)

The Peach State has produced its fair share of athletes at every position over the years and 2020 is no different.  Georgia’s three draft picks in the first round all hailed from the greater Atlanta area in Andrew Thomas, Derrick Brown, and A.J. Terrell.  Georgia had the most draft picks from any state in the first three rounds of the 2020 draft.

Derrick Brown, DT, Carolina Panthers

Pro Bowlers: 11

Orlando Brown Jr. (Peachtree Ridge, Suwannee)

Trent Brown (Westover, Albany)

Nick Chubb (Cedartown)

Mecole Hardman (Elbert County, Elberton)

Cameron Heyward (Peachtree Ridge, Suwanee)

Tyreek Hill (Coffee, Douglas)

Grady Jarrett (Rockdale County, Conyers)

Alvin Kamara (Norcross)

Will Lutz (Northgate, Newnan)

Darius Slay (Brunswick)

Deshaun Watson (Gainesville)

Notable Draft Picks:

Derrick Brown (Lanier, Sugar Hill)

Kyle Dugger (Whitewater, Fayetteville)

Antonio Gibson (Eagle’s Landing, McDonough)

Jonathan Greenard (Hiram)

Xavier McKinney (Roswell)

A.J. Terrell (Westlake, Atlanta)

Andrew Thomas (Pace Academy, Atlanta)

Jabari Zuniga (Sprayberry, Marietta)

5. Ohio (Composite Score = 41)

The state of Ohio started the 2020 draft with arguably the best quarterback to ever play a college football season in Joe Burrow.  The first three players drafted all played at Ohio State together as Chase Young went to the Washington Redskins with the second pick and Jeff Okudah went to the Detroit Lions with the third pick overall.  The Kelce brothers (Travis and Jason) both continue to dominate at the pro level at their respective positions.

Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

Pro Bowlers:  7

Frank Clark (Glenville, Cleveland)

Kyle Juszczyk (Cloverleaf, Lodi)

Jason Kelce (Cleveland Heights)

Travis Kelce (Cleveland Heights)

Ryan Kelly (Lakota West, West Chester)

Luke Kuechly (St. Xavier, Cincinnati)

Marshon Lattimore (Glenville, Cleveland)

Notable Draft Picks:

Lynn Bowden (Warren G. Harding, Warren)

Joe Burrow (Athens, The Plains)

DaVon Hamilton (Pickerington)

Malik Harrison (Walnut Ridge, Columbus)

6. Louisiana (Composite Score = 32)

The 2019 LSU team has an argument of being considered the best college football team of all-time.  In order to make a stronger argument of the best ever, a team’s draft picks have to be successful in the NFL much like the 2001 Miami Hurricanes who had a total of 38 players drafted including 17 in the first round. LSU had five players drafted in the first round so far with three players from the state of Louisiana in Justin Jefferson going to the Minnesota Vikings, Clyde Edwards-Helaire to the Kansas City Chiefs, and Patrick Queen to the Baltimore Ravens.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

Pro Bowlers: 4

DJ Chark (Alexandria)

Tre’Davious White (Green Oaks, Shreveport)

Jarvis Landry (Lutcher)

Trai Turner (St. Augustine, New Orleans)

Notable Draft Picks:

Lloyd Cushenberry (Dutchtown, Geismar)

Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Catholic, Baton Rouge)

Kristian Fulton (Archbishop Rummel, Metairie)

Justin Jefferson (Destrehan)

Patrick Queen (Livonia)

7. Alabama (Composite Score = 29)

In arguably the best WR class this century, Alabama had the first of many pass-catchers come off the board first with Henry Ruggs going the Las Vegas Raiders.  Julio Jones from Alabama continues to rack up huge numbers in the NFL as he was selected for his 7th pro bowl.

Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons

Pro Bowlers: 4

Rodney Hudson (Rain, Mobile)

Marlon Humphrey (Hoover)

Julio Jones (Foley)

Zadarius Smith (Greenville)

Notable Draft Picks:

Marlon Davidson (Greenville)

Noah Igbinoghene (Hewitt, Trussville)

Anfernee Jennings (Dadeville)

Henry Ruggs (Robert E. Lee, Montgomery)

7. South Carolina (Composite Score = 29)

South Carolina is certainly no pushover as they claim arguably the best cornerback in football with Stephon Gilmore and three-time first-team all-pro DeAndre Hopkins.  Javon Kinlaw heads west to San Franciso as he was drafted in the first round and 14th overall.

DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans

Pro Bowlers: 5

Stephon Gilmore (South Pointe, Rock Hill)

DeAndre Hopkins (D. W. Daniel, Central)

Darius Leonard (Lake View)

Cordarelle Patterson (Northwestern, Rock Hill)

Andre Roberts (Spring Valley, Columbia)

Notable Draft Picks:

Bryan Edwards (Conway)

Javon Kinlaw (Goose Creek)

9. New Jersey (Composite Score = 26)

Somewhat surprisingly we have a second team from the North in the top ten.  Jersey continues to produce talent at various positions. Jonathan Taylor is a prototype all-purpose running back that will surely be productive for the Indianapolis Colts and Cesar Ruiz could be the anchor of the New Orleans Saints offensive line for years to come.

Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin

Pro Bowlers: 4

Josh Allen (DE) (Montclair, Essex County)

Minkah Fitzpatrick (St. Peters Prep, Jersey City)

Rick Lovato (Middletown South)

Quenton Nelson (Red Bank Catholic)

Notable Draft Picks:

Matt Hennessey (Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey) 

Cesar Ruiz, (Camden) (Completed senior season at IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL)

Jonathan Taylor (Salem)

9. Tennessee (Composite Score = 26)

Rounding out the top ten maybe be surprising to some outside of the volunteer state but Tennessee has been more consistent than most states at producing elite talent.  National championship participants and 2020 draft picks Tee Higgins and Jacob Phillips look to continue that consistency.

Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Pro Bowlers: 4

Morgan Cox (Evangelical Christian School, Cordova)

Dont’a Hightower (Marshall County, Lewisburg)

Jalen Ramsey (Brentwood Academy)

Harrison Smith (Knoxville Catholic)

Notable Draft Picks:

Tee Higgins (Oak Ridge)

Van Jefferson (Ravenwood, Brentwood)

Jacob Phillips (East Nashville)

KeShawn Vaughn (Pearl-Cohn, Nashville)