The NFL draft has blossomed into an annual spectacle.

There's year-round coverage and plenty of pomp and circumstance. The NFL now even rotates where the event is hosted, parading through different NFL cities.

Through the years, a number of former Colorado high schoolers have gone on to be drafted in the NFL after collegiate careers. The Colorado High School Sports Athletic Association (CHSAA) keeps a database of all such players.

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A number of these future pro football players came Northern Colorado, including one draft's top overall pick. Other grads of Northern Colorado high schools have gone on to make the NFL, but these 13 players were formally selected in an NFL draft.

Gary Glick, LaPorte High School

Drafted in the 1st round (1st overall) in the 1956 draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Glick had been a star at Colorado State University, where he still holds the single-season interception record with 8 in 1954. Glick remains the only defensive back ever drafted first overall in NFL history. He went on to play from 1956 to 1963 with the Steelers, Washington Football Team, Baltimore Colts and San Diego Chargers. He won an AFL championship with the Chargers in his final season of 1963. Glick went on to a CFL coaching and scouting career. Glick, part of the inaugural class of the CSU athletic hall of fame, died in 2015 at age 84 at his Fort Collins home following a stroke.

Byron 'Whizzer' White, Wellington High School

Drafted in the 1st round (4th overall) in the 1938 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tailback starred for the Colorado Buffaloes in college, where his No. 24 is retired. He played one first-team all-pro season with the Pirates, where he led the league in rushing yards. He also played two seasons with the Detroit Lions and also led the league in rushing in 1940. White later went on to be a Supreme Court Justice nominated by John F. Kennedy. White, who dissented in the famous Roe v. Wade case, was later succeeded by the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg. White, who was raised in nearby Wellington, was born in Fort Collins on June 8, 1917. White died in Denver at age 84 in 2002.

Eddie Dove, Loveland High School

Drafted in the 3rd round (29th overall) of the 1959 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers. The defensive back who played collegiately for the Colorado Buffaloes, played five seasons in the NFL for the 49ers and New York Giants. Dove made the Pro Bowl in 1961.

Dave McCloughan, Loveland High School

Drafted in the 3rd round (69th overall) of the 1991 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. The defensive back played collegiately for the Colorado Buffaloes including the national championship 1990 team. McCloughlan comes from a rich NFL family as his father Kent played for the Oakland Raiders and his brother Scot is a longtime executive and former general manager of the San Francisco 49ers and and Washington Football Team. Dave played 1991 with the Colts, 1992 with the Green Bay Packers and his final two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.

Pete Monty, Fort Collins High School

Drafted in the 4th round (103rd overall) in the 1997 NFL draft by the New York Giants. The linebacker played collegiately at Wisconsin, where he won the 1994 Rose Bowl. Monty played 1997-200 with the New York Giants and 2001 with the Minnesota Vikings, making 62 career tackles.

Ryan Sutter, Fort Collins High School

Drafted in the 5th round (133th overall) in the 1998 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens. The defensive back played collegiately for the Colorado Buffaloes. Sutter bounced around the league, being part of the Ravens, Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks organizations. He played the 2000 season in NFL Europe for the Barcelona Dragons. While Sutter's pro career didn't last long, he found fame as the first winner of the reality dating show "The Bachelorette."

Greg Myers, Windsor High School

Drafted in the 5th round (144th overall) in the 1996 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. The defensive back  was a 4-time all-conference player at Colorado State and is a member of the Colorado Sports and College football hall of fames. Myers played 1996-199 with the Bengals and 2000 with the Dallas Cowboys. He played in 64 NFL games, making 221 tackles, four interceptions and four fumbles. Myers is now an anesthesiologist in the level one trauma unit at Denver Health Medical Center.

Jeremy Bloom, Loveland High School

Drafted in the 5th round (147th overall) in the 2006 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. Bloom was first a skiing star, becoming the youngest male on the U.S. Ski team at age 15. He competed in the 2002 and 2006 Olympics. Bloom then shifted his focus on football and played collegiately for the Colorado Buffaloes. He played 2006 with the Eagles and parts of 2007 and 2008 with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Bloom has since become a model and TV analyst.

 

Dale Dodrill, Loveland High School

Drafted in the 6th round (67th overall) in the 1951 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. The defensive tackle part of Loveland High School's 1942 state title team played collegiately for Colorado State University. Dodrill played for the Steelers from 1951-1959 and was named to the 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1958 Pro Bowls. Dodrill later started a successful Colorado insurance company.

Reed Doughty, Roosevelt High School

Drafted in the 6th round (173rd overall) in the 2006 NFL draft by the Washington Football Team. The defensive back played collegiately at the University of Northern Colorado. He played his entire eight-year NFL career with Washington, making 506 tackles and three interceptions in his career.

Jeff Donaldson, Fort Collins High School

Drafted in the 9th Round (226 overall) in the 1984 NFL draft by the Houston Oilers. The defensive back played collegiately for the Colorado Buffaloes. He played 10 NFL seasons with the Oilers, Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons. Donaldson made 12 interceptions and recovered eight fumbles in his career.

Mike McGraw, Poudre High School

Drafted in the 10th round (255th overall) in the 1975 NFL draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. The linebacker who played collegiately at Wyoming played in four games for the Cardinals and one game for the Detroit Lions.

Fred Glick, LaPorte High School

Drafted in the 23rd round (266th overall) in the 1959 NFL draft by the Chicago Cardinals. Gary's younger brother played defensive back collegiately at Colorado State. He played for the Cardinals and Houston Oilers in eight pro seasons, winning a 1961 AFL championship and being named an AFL All-Star in 1962, 1963 and 1964.

UP NEXT: 10 of the Best Athletes Born in Colorado

 

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