College programs with the most alums on NFL Week 1 rosters

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With in the books, the 2015 NFL season -- the 96th in the history of the league -- is under way. For rookies, the long journey from hopeful in January to the in February to the National Football League Player Selection Meeting in Chicago in late April to training camps in  Austin Gomber Jersey August finally hit its zenith in September with news of earning a roster spot. A good number of fresh faces hit the field during the NFL's opening weekend of play, many adding to an already impre sive list of alums on NFL rosters for some colleges. Here are the top 10 colleges with the most alums on Week 1 rosters:1. LSUTotal NFL players: 40Longest-tenured NFL veteran:, P, (12 seasons)Most promising NFL rookie:, LB, (selected in )The skinny:, and for good reason. , , and are among the most notable former Tigers current roaming defensive backfields in the NFL. Second-year wide receivers and have already made their marks on the NFL, while second-year running back had more than 1,000 yards rushing as a rookie. With those three talents, plus at quarterback, it's a marvel LSU didn't have a more prolific offensive attack in 2013. LSU also ranked No. 1 in 2014 with 38 players.2. Miami (Fla.)Total NFL players: 37Longest-tenured NFL veteran:, WR, (13 seasons)Most promising NFL rookie:, OL, (selected in )The skinny: "The U" is notorious for churning out offensive skill position talent. As rookies and look to carry on that tradition, , , , , and have established themselves as bona fide playmakers. While LSU stakes claim to being "DB U," a strong case could be made that has been one of the league's top defensive linemen since entering the NFL in 2004. The are hoping undrafted rookie LaDarius Gunter can develop like has since going undrafted in 2010.3. USCTotal NFL players: 35Longest-tenured NFL veteran:, QB, (13 seasons)Most promising NFL rookie:, DL, (selected in )The skinny: After not having a first-round NFL draft selection since 2012, USC  Adolis Garcia Jersey had two in 2015: Defensive tackle to the and wide receiver to the . Now that scholarship restrictions on the program have been lifted and it appears the Trojans are returning to national prominence, expect USC to produce first-round talent on an annual basis once again and vault further up lists such as these moving forward.4 (tie). AlabamaTotal NFL players: 34Longest-tenured NFL veteran: (tie) , S, ; , G, ; , LB, (10 seasons)Most promising NFL rookie:, WR, (selected in )The skinny:Alabama has produced a tremendous list of . That tradition of producing high-level talent has picked up recently since the arrival of coach Nick Saban. Alabama has produced 10 first-round NFL draft picks in the past four years, with a high of four first-rounders in 2012. Among those first-rounders is one of the game's best wide receivers -- the ' -- and a defensive tackle who just -- the ' .4 (tie). GeorgiaTotal NFL players: 34Longest-tenured NFL veteran: (tie) , DE, ; , TE, (12 seasons)Most promising NFL rookie:, RB, (selected in )The skinny: The NFL's sack leader in 2014, linebacker , was a third-round pick in 2011. That same year, wide receiver went to the in the first round. Green has posted 1,000-plus yards receiving in each of his four NFL seasons. Once Gurley gets to hit the field, he'll look to build on what is an impre sive tradition of Bulldogs backs in the NFL, a list that includes Terrell Davis, Garrison Hearst, Rodney Hampton, Herschel Walker and . Like Trippi, quarterback was a No. 1 overall draft pick.6 (tie). FloridaTotal NFL players: 31Longest-tenured NFL veteran:, S, (nine seasons)Most promising NFL rookie:, RB, (selected in )The skinny: Despite a recent run of mediocrity on the field, the Gators have produced four first-round picks in the last three NFL drafts: and in 2013, in 2014 and , Jr., in 2015. Unfortunately, the start of Fowler's NFL career was put on hold after as a pro.6 (tie). Florida StateTotal NFL players: 31Longest-tenured NFL veteran:, K, (16 seasons) Tommy Edman Jersey Most promising NFL rookie:, QB, (selected in )The skinny: Winston's NFL career , as by a team led by the player selected right after Winston, , who . Winston was the third FSU QB selected in the first round in the past five years, and the track record isn't promising -- didn't pan out with the and is relegated to backup duty with the .8. OklahomaTotal NFL players: 30Longest-tenured NFL veteran:, G, (10 seasons)Most promising NFL rookie:, DT, (selected in )The skinny: Two of the NFL's best running backs were Sooners. Last year's rushing champion, , was a third-round pick in 2011. , who became the seventh player to rush for 2,000-plus yards in a single season in 2012, was a first-round pick out of Oklahoma in 2007. , the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner, is getting a fresh start this season with coach Chip Kelly's .9. Notre DameTotal NFL players: 29Longest-tenured NFL veteran:, DE, (11 seasons)Most promising NFL rookie:, K, (undrafted)The skinny: Notre Dame had only one player selected in the 2015 , and that came . Notre Dame to the NFL in the very near future. While , Notre Dame did have eight players drafted in 2014. That 2014 draft included offensive lineman , who earned a nod as a rookie.10. ClemsonTotal NFL players: 28Longest-tenured NFL veteran:, QB, (10 seasons)Most promising NFL rookie:, LB, (selected in )The skinny: While third-year wide receiver looks like a star in the making, Carlos Martinez Jersey  the hope the career of second-year receiver trends in the same direction. Clemson had two defensive players selected in the first round this year -- Beasley to the and to the -- and each figure prominently into their respective teams' plans for 2015. Fun facts: A total of 251 colleges were represented on Kickoff Weekend rosters.  If you go by conference, the SEC has the most NFL players with 309. The ACC is next with 239 players, followed by the Big Ten and Pac-12 (221 apiece), Big 12 (134) and AAC (96). This is based on a college's current conference affiliation. For example, all players who went to Utah are cla sified as Pac-12 and all players who went to Maryland and Rutgers are cla sified as Big Ten (etc). It should come as no surprise to anybody who follows college football and how it relates to the NFL draft that the SEC has the most players. When breaking down the rosters by draft round, the first round has 261 players, second round with 204, third round with 201, fourth round with 169, fifth round with 139, sixth round with 124 and seventh round with 111. There are 486 players who went undrafted currently in the NFL. The large number of undrafted players currently on NFL rosters underscores how important that period immediately following the conclusion of the draft is for teams.  The non-Power 5 conference school (plus Notre Dame) with the most players currently in the NFL? This one might surprise you. It's not Boise State, Fresno State, Central Florida, or any of the powerhouses of the MAC. It's Connecticut. UConn had 17 players players on 53-man Week 1 NFL rosters Mark McGwire Jersey . That's impre sive stuff for a program that hasn't won more than five games in a season since 2010 -- including a dismal 2-10 campaign in 2014. Coming out of that two-win season, UConn produced a first-round draft pick in 2015, . In the past three drafts, UConn had nine players drafted. That's more than high-profile traditional powers such as Texas (5), Auburn (7), Michigan (7), Tenne see (7) and Miami (8). A school that hasn't fielded a football team since 1974 has a player currently playing in the NFL. Wisconsin-Milwaukee, which shut down its football program in 1975, boasts tight end . Harris played basketball and club football at UW-Milwaukee. Follow Jim Reineking on Twitter .