Database has 20 years of picks, patterns

0 Comments | USA TODAY, April, 2008

Looking ahead to this weekend's draft in New York, Jeff Zillgitt and USA TODAY's NFL experts explore where the players come from, at the high school, collegiate and conference levels, and analyze trends from the last 20 drafts. To examine the data on your own, visit the sortable draft database, which includes every player drafted since 1988, at nfl.usatoday.com

Ohio produces Buckeyes, pros

Ohio State averaged 8.5 wins and 4.9 draft picks a year in the 13 seasons before Jim Tressel became head coach in 2001.

Since Tressel took over, the Buckeyes have averaged 10.4 wins and 7.8 draft picks a year. Recruiting is key, and while Tressel says, "I don't know if we are doing anything magical," he concedes his staff might devote more time evaluating recruits...