The Houston Oilers selected Iowa State running back George Amundson with the 14th overall pick in the 1973 draft. Forty-six years later, the 1972 Big 8 Player of the Year remains the Cyclones' only first-round pick.
The drought is the longest among Power Five teams — by a mile; Indiana is next closest (24 years) — and the total remains the lowest. Rutgers is the only other Power Five program with fewer than five. The Scarlet Knights' three first-round picks are tied with seven other teams for 86th-most among all active and defunct teams.
Also tied for 86th: Marquette.
A year ago, I was digging through all-time draft picks and noticed, despite not playing a down of football since 1960, the Golden Eagles (then the Golden Avalanche) have three first-round picks, three times as many as Iowa State.
Marquette is one of seven defunct teams with more first-round picks than Iowa State, three of which were disbanded at least 50 years ago.
| Team | Picks | Disbanded |
|---|---|---|
| Marquette | 3 | 1960 |
| Boston U | 2 | 1997 |
| Detroit Mercy | 2 | 1964 |
| Long Beach State | 2 | 1961 |
| San Francisco | 2 | 1982 |
| Saint Mary's | 2 | 2003 |
| Tampa | 2 | 1974 |
