While at Wisconsin, Palermo produced four first-team All-Americans, and his players were named first-team All-Big Ten a total of nine times. His players were selected Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year four times and two were named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Eight of Palermo's defensive linemen have been chosen in the first six rounds of the NFL draft, including two, Wendell Bryant in 2002 and Erasmus James in 2005, who were taken in the first round. James was a consensus All-American and the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Palermo's entire 2004 defensive line was selected in the 2005 NFL draft