Video: Bingham High School's State Title
See highlights of the 2006 team that Star Lotulelei played on.A deeper talent pool has made Utah an increasingly attractive target for FBS and FCS coaches who are searching for the next rising star. They are not alone in their quest. NFL scouts are also uncovering football riches that the state has to offer.
Utah has quietly turned into a legitimate source of future NFL talent in recent years. The Beehive State has produced 16 NFL Draft picks since 2006. That number is expected to swell with the 2016 NFL Draft since Bronson Kaufusi (Timpview), James Cowser (Davis), Nick Vigil (Fremont) and Jason Fanaika (Pleasant Grove) are all projected as middle- to late-round selections.
Here are some fun facts about Utah high school players from NFL drafts over the past decade. See below that for a comprehensive chart featuring details on every player drafted since 2006.
* Five former Utah high school players have been second-round NFL Draft picks since 2006. This group includes Paul Kruger (2009), Zane Beadles (2010), Stephen Paea (2011), Xavier Su'a-Filo (2014) and Nate Orchard (2015).
* Highland and Bingham are the only schools to produce eventual first round NFL Draft picks. Rams alum Haloti Ngata was drafted 12th overall by the Baltimore Ravens in 2006. Miners alum Star Lotulelei was taken 14th overall by the Carolina Panthers in 2013.
* Dating back to 2006, Paul Kruger and Joe Kruger have the distinction of being the only siblings to play high school football in Utah and eventually be drafted into the NFL. Paul was taken in the second round by the Ravens in 2009. Joe was drafted in the seventh round by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013.
* At least one player who played high school football in Utah has been selected in the NFL Draft every year since 2006.
* Highland has produced the most NFL Draft picks of any Utah high school over the past 10 years. The Rams have sent three players to the NFL since 2006: Haloti Ngata (2006), Stewart Bradley (2007) and Nate Orchard (2015).
* Salt Lake County high schools have produced nine NFL Draft picks since 2006. Utah County high schools have produced six NFL Draft picks in that time. Only one Utah high school in the rest of the state, Fremont High, has seen a former player eventually get drafted during the last 10 years. Former Silver Wolves standout David Hale was taken by the Ravens in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft.
* Ten of the 16 Utah high school players drafted since 2006 stayed in-state to play college football. Six played for the University of Utah, two played for BYU and the other two played for Utah State and Weber State.
* Former Utah high school players chosen in the NFL Draft during the last 10 seasons have been selected by an AFC team 62.5 percent of the time.
* The Baltimore Ravens and the Philadelphia Eagles have each drafted three former Utah high school players since 2006 – the most of any NFL teams.
* Former Utah high school players have been drafted by 11 different NFL teams since 2006.
| NAME |
SCHOOL |
RD |
PICK |
YEAR |
TEAM |
| Nate
Orchard |
Highland |
2 |
51 |
2015 |
Browns |
| Xavier
Su'a-Filo |
Timpview |
2 |
33 |
2014 |
Texans |
| Star
Lotulelei |
Bingham |
1 |
14 |
2013 |
Panthers |
| Joe
Kruger |
Pleasant
Grove |
7 |
212 |
2013 |
Eagles |
| Tony
Bergstrom |
Skyline |
3 |
95 |
2012 |
Raiders |
| Stephen
Paea |
Timpview |
2 |
53 |
2011 |
Bears |
| Stanley
Havili |
Cottonwood |
7 |
240 |
2011 |
Eagles |
| Zane
Beadles |
Hillcrest |
2 |
45 |
2010 |
Broncos |
| Paul
Kruger |
Timpanogos |
2 |
57 |
2009 |
Ravens |
| Fui
Vakapuna |
East |
7 |
215 |
2009 |
Bengals |
| David
Hale |
Fremont |
4 |
133 |
2008 |
Ravens |
| Shawn
Murphy |
Lone
Peak |
4 |
110 |
2008 |
Dolphins |
| Bryan
Kehl |
Brighton |
4 |
123 |
2008 |
Giants |
| C.J.
Ah You |
Lone
Peak |
7 |
239 |
2007 |
Bills |
| Stewart
Bradley |
Highland |
3 |
87 |
2007 |
Eagles |
| Haloti
Ngata |
Highland |
1 |
12 |
2006 |
Ravens |
John Coon covers Utah high school sports for MaxPreps. You can contact him at john_coon@hotmail.com and follow him on Twitter at @johncoonsports
