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You should never miss an Independence Bowl in Shreveport. Because you never know when one of the players you get to see play will be the next NFL star.

Just look at Pro Football Hall of Famers Bruce Smith (Virginia Tech, 1984), Willie Roaf (Louisiana Tech, 1990), and Alan Faneca (LSU, 1995 & 1997) who all played in the Indy Bowl. Or future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Eli Manning (Ole Miss, 2002) and future Hall of Fame linebacker Von Miller (Texas A&M, 2009), both who played in Shreveport's bowl game.

Eli Manning looks to pass
Eli Manning plays in Independence Bowl - Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
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Those guys all heard their names called in the NFL Draft, with Smith and Manning both taken #1 overall in their drafts. There have been way more Indy Bowl players taken in the NFL Draft over time. Some really high picks, and some late round picks. But you have a pretty good chance of seeing NFL caliber talent on the field when you attend an Independence Bowl in Shreveport.

This year's NFL Draft didn't extend one impressive streak for the I Bowl. Right now, every I Bowl since 2014 has featured a First Round NFL Draft pick, except 2021. But there could be a player for UAB or BYU that ends up becoming a First Round pick in the next couple of years.

But, having two players taken from the 2021 Independence Bowl in this year's NFL Draft does extend an incredibly impressive streak. Every Independence Bowl game in history has featured at least one NFL Draft pick in the game. All the way back to 1976!

Camping World Independence Bowl - Tulsa v Virginia Tech
Tremaine Edmunds makes tackle during Independence Bowl - Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images
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We're not going to list every player to ever play in the Indy Bowl to get drafted, but here's a least one from each game, the year they were drafted, and in what round. Just look at all this First Round talent...

2021 I Bowl - BYU - Tyler Allgeier, 2022 5th Round
2019 I Bowl - Miami (FL) - Gregory Rousseau, 2019 1st Round
2018 I Bowl - Duke - Daniel Jones, 2019 1st Round
2017 I Bowl - Florida State - Brian Burns, 2019 1st Round
2016 I Bowl - Bradley Chubb - NC State, 2018 1st Round
2015 I Bowl - Virginia Tech - Tremaine Edmunds, 2018 1st Round
2014 I Bowl - Miami (FL) - Phillip Dorsett, 2015 1st Round
2013 I Bowl - Boston College - Justin Simmons, 2016 3rd Round
2012 I Bowl - UL: Monroe - Trey Caldwell, 2016 5th Round
2011 I Bowl - Missouri - Sheldon Richardson, 2013 1st Round
2010 I Bowl - Georgia Tech - Stephen Hill, 2012 2nd Round
2009 I Bowl - Georgia - AJ Green, 2011 1st Round
2008 I Bowl - Louisiana Tech - D'Anthony Smith, 2010 3rd Round
2007 I Bowl - Alabama - Andre Smith, 2009 1st Round
2006 I Bowl - OK State - Brandon Pettigrew, 2009 1st Round
2005 I Bowl - Missouri - Brad Smith, 2006 4th Round
2004 I Bowl - Miami (OH) - Ryne Robinson, 2007 4th Round
2003 I Bowl - Arkansas - Matt Jones, 2005 1st Round
2002 I Bowl - Ole Miss - Eli Manning, 2004 1st Round
2001 I Bowl - Alabama - Jason McAddley, 2002 5th Round
2000 I Bowl - Texas A&M - Sammy Davis, 2003 1st Round
1999 I Bowl - Oklahoma - Stockar McDougle, 2000 1st Round
1998 I Bowl - Ole Miss - Deuce McAllister, 2001 1st Round
1997 I Bowl - LSU - Alan Faneca, 1998 1st Round
1996 I Bowl - Auburn - Takeo Spikes, 1998 1st Round
1995 I Bowl - LSU - Eddie Kennison, 1996 1st Round
1994 I Bowl - TCU - Jason Tucker, 1998 6th Round
1993 I Bowl - Virginia Tech - Jim Drunkenmiller, 1997 1st Round
1992 I Bowl - Oregon - Ricky Whittle, 1996 4th Round
1991 I Bowl - Georgia - Garrison Hearst, 1993 1st Round
1990 I Bowl - Louisiana Tech - Willie Roaf, 1993 1st Round
1989 I Bowl - Oregon - Latin Berry, 1990 3rd Round
1988 I Bowl - Southern Miss - Brett Favre, 2nd Round 1991
1987 I Bowl - Washington - Chris Chandler, 3rd Round 1988
1986 I Bowl - Texas Tech - Billy Joe Tolliver, 2nd Round 1989
1985 I Bowl - Clemson - Terrence Flagler, 1st Round 1987
1984 I Bowl -Viringia Tech - Bruce Smith, 1st Round 1985
1983 I Bowl - Ole Miss - Timmy Moffett, 3rd Round 1985
1982 I Bowl - Wisconsin - Al Toon, 1st Round 1985
1981 I Bowl - Texas A&M - Billy Cannon, 1st Round 1984
1980 I Bowl - Southern Miss - Louis Lipps, 1st Round 1984
1979 I Bowl - Syracuse - Art Monk, 1st Round 1980
1978 I Bowl - East Carolina - Eddie Hicks, 6th Round 1979
1977 I Bowl - Louisiana Tech - Craig Bradshaw, 7th Round 1980
1976 I Bowl - Tulsa - Steve August, 1st Round 1977

Again, this year's draft helps extend that incredible streak. Check out all of the players from the Independence Bowl who were taken in the 2022 NFL Draft:

Former Independence Bowl Players Drafted in 2022 NFL Draft

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