2021 NFL Draft: Mapping out high school home of Trevor Lawrence and every No. 1 pick since 1990

By Mitch Stephens Apr 29, 2021, 5:15pm

California and Texas have both produced five top overall picks over the past 31 years.

Since 1990, there had been 19 quarterbacks selected as the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. On Thursday, Trevor Lawrence made 20. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound signal caller from Cartersville (Ga.) was just announced by commissioner Roger Goodell as the top pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Lawrence was the fourth straight quarterback selected No. 1 overall. He is the second Georgia signal caller since 2011 to come off the board first, joining Cam Newton of Westlake (Atlanta).

The Clemson star was a slam dunk pick at No. 1 and has been viewed in that light since his high school days. He threw for 13,902 yards and 121 touchdowns in 56 career games (53 wins) at Cartersville and was the unanimous No. 1 recruit in the country. He hit the ground running at Clemson, leading the Tigers to a national championship as a freshman and going 39-3 during his career.

While Georgia's reputation as a high school football hotbed and pipeline to the pros continues to grow, California and Texas have produced a third of the top picks over the last three decades with five each. Of those 10 picks, eight were quarterbacks. Interestingly, though Florida leads all states in draft picks since 1990, none have gone No. 1.



Read on for a complete breakdown of top picks since 1990.
Graphic by Ryan Escobar
Alabama
JaMarcus Russell, QB, 2007, Williamson (Mobile)
Jameis Winston, QB, 2015, Hueytown

California
Keyshawn Johnson, WR, 1996, Dorsey (Los Angeles)
David Carr, QB, 2002, Stockdale (Bakersfield)
Carson Palmer, QB, 2003, Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita)
Alex Smith, QB, 2005, Helix (La Mesa)
Jared Goff, QB, 2016, Marin Catholic (Kentfield)

Georgia
Cam Newton, QB, 2011, Westlake (Atlanta)
Trevor Lawrence, QB, 2021, Cartersville

Illinois
Russell Maryland, DL, 1991, Whitney Young (Chicago)

Indiana
Jeff George, QB, 1990, Warren Central (Indianapolis)

Kentucky
Tim Couch, QB, 1999, Leslie County (Hyden)



Louisiana
Peyton Manning, QB, 1998, Newman (New Orleans)
Eli Manning, QB, 2004, Newman (New Orleans)

Michigan
Jake Long, OL, 2008, Lapeer East (Lapeer)
Eric Fisher, OL, 2013, Stoney Creek (Rochester Hills)

North Carolina
Mario Williams, DL, 2006, Richlands

Ohio
Dan Wilkinson, DL, 1994, Dunbar (Dayton)
Ki-Jana Carter, RB, 1995, Westerville South (Westerville)
Orlando Pace, OL, 1997, Sandusky
Joe Burrow, QB, 2000, Athens (The Plains)

Oklahoma
Sam Bradford, QB, 2010, Putnam City North (Oklahoma City)

South Carolina
Courtney Brown, DL, 2000, Macedonia (Closed)
Jadeveon Clowney, DL, 2014, South Pointe (Rock Hill)



Texas
Matthew Stafford, QB, 2009, Highland Park (Dallas)
Andrew Luck, QB, 2012, Stratford (Houston)
Myles Garrett, DE, 2017, Martin (Arlington)
Baker Mayfield, QB, 2018, Lake Travis (Austin)
Kyler Murray, QB, 2019, Allen (Texas)

Virginia
Michael Vick, QB, 2001, Warwick (Newport News)

Washington
Steve Emtman, DL, 1992, Cheney
Drew Bledsoe, QB, 1993, Walla Walla