SEC dominates 2021 NFL draft the way it manhandles college teams There were 29 SEC players chosen through three rounds — 12 in the opening round — and eight more went in the fourth. Author: BARRY WILNER (AP Pro Football Writer) Published: 2:35 PM PDT May 1, 2021 Updated: 5:04 PM PDT May 1, 2021 CLEVELAND — As the NFL celebrated the conclusion of an in-person draft on the shores of Lake Erie that went swimmingly one year after a virtual event caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, several facts emerged. For sure, the Southeastern Conference is the place to be for college football players. From 12 out of the SEC in the first round — six from national champion Alabama — to a total of 65 through the seven rounds that finished Saturday in Cleveland, the SEC dominated the selections the way it tends to dominate the college game.