NFL reveals which schools, states produced the most players this season

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Published  September 12, 2025 4:48pm CDT
FOX Local

Travis Hunter of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs out for player intros prior to a NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers at Everbank Stadium on September 7, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Logan Bowles/Getty Images)

The Brief

    • The NFL has released data on the 1,730 players who made Week 1 rosters.
    • More players went to high school in Florida and Texas than other states.
    • IMG Academy in Florida was once again the top of the list.

With the NFL’s kickoff weekend now over and initial rosters official, the league has compiled data on which towns and schools produced the most players this season.

The list looks similar to last year, with Texas and Florida continuing to top the list of total players. But it’s Georgians who may have the best chance of making the cut – the Peach State topped the list of states with the most NFL players per capita.

The high school with the most NFL players was once again IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, just south of Tampa, followed by American Heritage in Plantation, Florida.

By the numbers:

The totals are based on the 1,730 players on Kickoff Weekend rosters.

As of Week 1, NFL players represent high schools in 46 states and the District of Columbia, along with three other countries – Australia, Canada, and Germany – plus U.S. territory American Samoa. 

States with the most NFL players

  1. Texas: 199
  2. Florida: 179
  3. California: 165
  4. Georgia: 143
  5. North Carolina: 70
  6. Louisiana: 59
  7. Ohio: 57
  8. Illinois: 55
  9. Michigan: 55
  10. Alabama: 52 

High school cities with most NFL players

  1. Bradenton, Fla.: 20
  2. Atlanta: 18
  3. Miami: 18
  4. Detroit: 16
  5. Charlotte: 14
  6. Houston: 13
  7. Las Vegas: 13
  8. Tampa: 12
  9. Philadelphia: 11
  10. Suwanee, Ga.: 11

States with most NFL players per capita

  1. Georgia: 1 player per 74,908 people
  2. Louisiana: 1 player per 78,945 people
  3. Mississippi: 1 player per 92,540 people
  4. Alabama: 1 player per 96,621 people
  5. District of Columbia: 1player per 98,506 people
  6. Florida: 1 player per 120,325 people
  7. Hawaii: 1 player per 121,273 people
  8. Utah: 1 player per 136,317 people
  9. Maryland: 1 player per 140,391 people
  10. Texas: 1 player per 146,460 people

United States average: 1 NFL player per 193,604 people

RELATED: How to watch NFL football: Week 2

The Source: Information in this story comes from the National Football League's Office of Communications, which compiled the data from Week 1 rosters. Data from the 2020 U.S. Census and previous FOX Television Stations reporting was also used.

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