NFL COMBINE 2026: THE SEC DOMINATES, THREE CANADIANS IN INDIANAPOLIS
Updated: Oct 31
The NFL Scouting Combine remains one of the defining stages in the process leading up to the NFL Draft. Each year, Indianapolis becomes the central meeting point for the top collegiate prospects, gathered for a full week of evaluations in front of representatives from all 32 National Football League franchises.
For the 2026 edition, the NFL sent out 319 invitations in February following the conclusion of the 2025 season. The event will take place from February 23 to March 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium, with live coverage beginning February 26 on NFL Network.
On the schedule: traditional physical testing — 40-yard dash, bench press, jumps — along with position-specific drills, medical examinations and individual interviews. Together, these components allow teams to precisely assess a player’s ability to meet the specific demands of his position.
While the traditional powerhouses of college football are well represented, the invite list also highlights programs on the rise, including Indiana, this season’s national champion.
The Most Represented Programs at the 2026 Combine
1) Texas A&M — 13 invitees
Key players: WR KC Concepcion, OL Ar’maj Reed-Adams, DL Cashius Howell, LB Taurean York, DB Will Lee III.
With 13 players invited, the Texas A&M program arrives in Indianapolis with the largest delegation. The group features explosive perimeter talent in KC Concepcion, but its foundation lies in the trenches: four of the five starting offensive linemen from the 2025 season are headed to the Combine, along with three of the team’s primary defensive linemen.
2) Alabama — 12 invitees
Key players: QB Ty Simpson, WR Germie Bernard, OL Kadyn Proctor, DL LT Overton, LB Deontae Lawson.
For Alabama, the Combine represents a significant moment, particularly for Ty Simpson in what has been described as a relatively weak quarterback class. Germie Bernard is also a prospect to watch after serving as a primary target in the passing attack. Along the lines, Kadyn Proctor and LT Overton reflect the program’s typical physical presence, while Deontae Lawson provides stability at the second defensive level.
T-3) Ohio State — 11 invitees
Key players: WR Carnell Tate, TE Max Klare, DL Caden Curry, DL Kayden McDonald, LB Arvell Reese, DB Caleb Downs.
Ohio State sends a group heavily anchored by its defense, with seven of the eleven invitees coming from that side of the ball. Arvell Reese, capable of playing multiple roles, Kayden McDonald, a unanimous All-American and Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, and Caleb Downs, consistently cited among the nation’s top defensive backs, headline the class. On offense, Carnell Tate and Max Klare round out the representation.
T-3) LSU — 11 invitees
Key players: QB Garrett Nussmeier, WR Barion Brown, LB Harold Perkins Jr., DB Mansoor Delane, DB A.J. Haulcy.
Despite an uneven season, LSU places eleven players at the Combine. Garrett Nussmeier will look to reassert his potential after a year impacted by injuries. Barion Brown is considered a player who could draw attention during the speed drills. Defensively, Harold Perkins Jr., Mansoor Delane, and A.J. Haulcy highlight the program’s depth.
T-5) Georgia — 10 invitees
Key players: WR Zachariah Branch, WR Colbie Young, DL Christen Miller, LB CJ Allen.
At Georgia, the speed of Zachariah Branch will be closely monitored. Colbie Young will also be evaluated carefully during official measurements (listed at 6’3, 215 lbs). On defense, Christen Miller and CJ Allen maintain the continuity of a program recognized for its discipline.
T-5) Oklahoma — 10 invitees
Key players: TE Jaren Kanak, DL Gracen Halton, DL R Mason Thomas, LB Owen Heinecke, DB Robert Spears-Jennings.
Jaren Kanak’s trajectory stands out: three seasons as a linebacker before transitioning to tight end in 2025. He finished third on his team with 44 receptions for 533 yards and earned Third-Team All-SEC honors. Oklahoma also sends seven defenders, including four defensive linemen, reinforcing the defensive identity of its delegation.
T-5) Miami — 10 invitees
Key players: QB Carson Beck, OL Francis Mauigoa, DL Rueben Bain Jr., DL Akheem Mesidor, DB Keionte Scott.
Miami distinguishes itself through the strength of its lines. Francis Mauigoa is regarded as a dominant tackle, while the pass-rush duo of Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor combined for 10.5 sacks during Miami’s run to the national championship game. Carson Beck completes the offensive group.
T-8) Clemson — 9 invitees
Key players: QB Cade Klubnik, RB Adam Randall, WR Antonio Williams, DL T.J. Parker, DL Peter Woods.
The Combine represents an opportunity for Cade Klubnik following a difficult season. As is often the case, Clemson relies heavily on its defensive front, with T.J. Parker and Peter Woods among the program’s most highly regarded prospects.
T-8) Florida — 9 invitees
Key players: OL Jake Slaughter, DL Caleb Banks.
Florida maintains a solid presence. Jake Slaughter is viewed as a leading center prospect, while Caleb Banks ranks among the more highly regarded defensive linemen in the group.
T-8) Indiana — 9 invitees
Key players: QB Fernando Mendoza, WR Elijah Sarratt, OL Pat Coogan, LB Aiden Fisher, DB D’Angelo Ponds.
As national champion, Indiana sends several headliners to Indianapolis. Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner, is viewed as a serious candidate for the first overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. D’Angelo Ponds is also mentioned among potential first-round picks, while Aiden Fisher and Elijah Sarratt complete a balanced group.
T-8) Iowa — 9 invitees
Key players: WR Kaden Wetjen, OL Gennings Dunker, OL Logan Jones, DB Xavier Nwankpa.
Iowa presents a cohesive delegation, particularly along the offensive line with Gennings Dunker and Logan Jones. Kaden Wetjen is noted as an intriguing profile, particularly in a potential return role.
T-8) Penn State — 9 invitees
Key players: QB Drew Allar, RB Kaytron Allen, RB Nicholas Singleton, OL Olaivavega Ioane, DL Dani Dennis-Sutton.
Drew Allar is considered uncertain for on-field drills due to an ankle injury that shortened his season. Running backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton are described as intriguing prospects expected to hear their names called in April.
A Strong SEC Presence
Among the most represented programs are Texas A&M, Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Florida, a concentration that underscores the significant presence of the SEC in Indianapolis.
Three Canadians at the 2026 Combine
Among the 319 invited players are three Canadians, a notable presence within a process largely dominated by American programs. Akheem Mesidor (DL, Miami) represents the most visible defensive profile of the trio, as part of a line that stood out during Miami’s playoff run. Logan Taylor (OL, Boston College) is the only Canadian listed among the offensive linemen in a particularly deep position group. Finally, Taylor Elgersma (QB, Wilfrid Laurier / experience with the Green Bay Packers) completes the Canadian representation, a rare quarterback from Canadian university football to reach this stage of the pre-draft process.
Beyond the stopwatches and bench press reps, the Combine operates as an unforgiving filter. For one week, every detail matters: an explosive start, a measured answer in an interview room, the impression left on decision-makers. Indianapolis is not merely a stop on the calendar, it is a turning point on the road to the NFL.
In Indianapolis, it’s not just about evaluating athletes. It’s about determining who will take the next step through the door to the highest level.
Below is the list of invited players, organized by position:
QUARTERBACKS
Joey Aguilar, Tennessee
Drew Allar, Penn State
Luke Altmyer, Illinois
Carson Beck, Miami
Jalon Daniels, Kansas
Joe Fagnano, UConn
Taylen Green, Arkansas
Haynes King, Georgia Tech
Cade Klubnik, Clemson
Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
Behren Morton, Texas Tech
Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
Cole Payton, North Dakota State
Sawyer Robertson, Baylor
Ty Simpson, Alabama
Taylor Elgersma, Wilfrid Laurier
RUNNING BACKS
Kaytron Allen, Penn State
Max Bredeson, Michigan
Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest
Jonah Coleman, Washington
CJ Donaldson, Ohio State
Rahsul Faison, South Carolina
Eli Heidenreich, Navy
Roman Hemby, Indiana
Robert Henry Jr., UTSA
Emmett Johnson, Nebraska
Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
Seth McGowan, Kentucky
Jam Miller, Alabama
Le'Veon Moss, Texas A&M
Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
Adam Randall, Clemson
Desmond Reid, Pittsburgh
Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
J'Mari Taylor, Virginia
Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas
Noah Whittington, Oregon
WIDE RECEIVERS
Aaron Anderson, LSU
Vinny Anthony II, Wisconsin
Chris Bell, Louisville
Dillon Bell, Georgia
Skyler Bell, UConn
Malik Benson, Oregon
Germie Bernard, Alabama
Denzel Boston, Washington
Zachariah Branch, Georgia
Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee
Barion Brown, LSU
Deion Burks, Oklahoma
Jeff Caldwell, Cincinnati
Josh Cameron, Baylor
Kevin Coleman Jr., Missouri
KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
CJ Daniels, Miami
Caleb Douglas, Texas Tech
Malachi Fields, Notre Dame
Emmanuel Henderson Jr., Kansas
Chris Hilton Jr., LSU
Jordan Hudson, SMU
Ted Hurst, Georgia State
Caullin Lacy, Louisville
Bryce Lance, North Dakota State
Ja'Kobi Lane, USC
Kendrick Law, Kentucky
Makai Lemon, USC
Eric McAlister, TCU
Donaven McCulley, Michigan
Eric Rivers, Georgia Tech
Chase Roberts, BYU
Elijah Sarratt, Indiana
De'Zhaun Stribling, Mississippi
J. Michael Sturdivant, Florida
Carnell Tate, Ohio State
Zavion Thomas, LSU
Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State
Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
Reggie Virgil, Texas Tech
Harrison Wallace III, Mississippi
Jalen Walthall, Incarnate Word
Kaden Wetjen, Iowa
Antonio Williams, Clemson
Colbie Young, Georgia
TIGHT ENDS
Dallen Bentley, Utah
Nate Boerkircher, Texas A&M
Josh Cuevas, Alabama
Oscar Delp, Georgia
Khalil Dinkins, Penn State
Jack Endries, Texas
John Michael Gyllenborg, Wyoming
Matthew Hibner, SMU
Justin Joly, N.C. State
Will Kacmarek, Ohio State
Jaren Kanak, Oklahoma
Miles Kitselman, Tennessee
Max Klare, Ohio State
Marlin Klein, Michigan
Tanner Koziol, Houston
RJ Maryland, SMU
Lake McRee, USC
Riley Nowakowski, Indiana
Eli Raridon, Notre Dame
DJ Rogers, TCU
Sam Roush, Stanford
Joe Royer, Cincinnati
Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
Bauer Sharp, LSU
Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
Michael Trigg, Baylor
Dae'Quan Wright, Mississippi
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Chris Adams, Memphis
Austin Barber, Florida
Evan Beerntsen, Northwestern
Markel Bell, Miami
Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M
Jude Bowry, Boston College
Parker Brailsford, Alabama
Joshua Braun, Kentucky
Travis Burke, Memphis
Jager Burton, Kentucky
DJ Campbell, Texas
Fernando Carmona, Arkansas
Kage Casey, Boise State
Pat Coogan, Indiana
Anez Cooper, Miami
Dametrious Crownover, Texas A&M
Enrique Cruz Jr., Kansas
J.C. Davis, Illinois
Garrett DiGiorgio, UCLA
Gennings Dunker, Iowa
Fa'alili Fa'amoe, Wake Forest
Spencer Fano, Utah
Jalen Farmer, Kentucky
Monroe Freeling, Georgia
Matt Gulbin, Michigan State
Alex Harkey, Oregon
Sam Hecht, Kansas State
Alan Herron, Maryland
Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
Logan Jones, Iowa
Connor Lew, Auburn
Caleb Lomu, Utah
Francis Mauigoa, Miami
Blake Miller, Clemson
Micah Morris, Georgia
Febechi Nwaiwu, Oklahoma
Brian Parker II, Duke
Diego Pounds, Mississippi
Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
Ar'maj Reed-Adams, Texas A&M
Jaeden Roberts, Alabama
Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech
Billy Schrauth, Notre Dame
Drew Shelton, Penn State
Jake Slaughter, Florida
Beau Stephens, Iowa
Logan Taylor, Boston College
Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern
Keagen Trost, Missouri
Dillon Wade, Auburn
Aamil Wagner, Notre Dame
Carver Willis, Washington
Jeremiah Wright, Auburn
Trey Zuhn III, Texas A&M
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Vincent Anthony Jr., Duke
David Bailey, Texas Tech
Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
Cameron Ball, Arkansas
Caleb Banks, Florida
Jaishawn Barham, Michigan
Nick Barrett, South Carolina
Rayshaun Benny, Michigan
DeMonte Capehart, Clemson
Brandon Cleveland, N.C. State
Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati
Keyron Crawford, Auburn
Caden Curry, Ohio State
Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
Zane Durant, Penn State
Bryson Eason, Tennessee
Deven Eastern, Minnesota
Logan Fano, Utah
Keldric Faulk, Auburn
Skyler Gill-Howard, Texas Tech
George Gumbs Jr., Florida
David Gusta, Kentucky
Gracen Halton, Oklahoma
Zxavian Harris, Mississippi
Romello Height, Texas Tech
Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
Aidan Hubbard, Northwestern
Lee Hunter, Texas Tech
Quintayvious Hutchins, Boston College
Gabe Jacas, Illinois
Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida State
Bobby Jamison-Travis, Auburn
Marvin Jones Jr., Oklahoma
Joshua Josephs, Tennessee
Tim Keenan III, Alabama
Nyjalik Kelly, UCF
Malachi Lawrence, UCF
Max Llewellyn, Iowa
Anthony Lucas, USC
Jackie Marshall, Baylor
Chris McClellan, Missouri
Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
Akheem Mesidor, Miami
Christen Miller, Georgia
Derrick Moore, Michigan
Trey Moore, Texas
Tyler Onyedim, Texas A&M
Domonique Orange, Iowa State
LT Overton, Alabama
T.J. Parker, Clemson
Patrick Payton, LSU
Kaleb Proctor, Southeastern Louisiana
Jack Pyburn, LSU
Albert Regis, Texas A&M
Mason Reiger, Wisconsin
Tyreak Sapp, Florida
Gary Smith III, UCLA
R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
Nadame Tucker, Western Michigan
Damonic Williams, Oklahoma
Wesley Williams, Duke
Peter Woods, Clemson
Zion Young, Missouri
LINEBACKERS
CJ Allen, Georgia
Lander Barton, Utah
Wesley Bissainthe, Miami
Bryce Boettcher, Oregon
Kendal Daniels, Oklahoma
Kaleb Elarms-Orr, TCU
Keyshaun Elliott, Arizona State
Aiden Fisher, Indiana
Eric Gentry, USC
Jake Golday, Cincinnati
Owen Heinecke, Oklahoma
Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
Justin Jefferson, Alabama
Jack Kelly, BYU
Deontae Lawson, Alabama
Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh
Red Murdock, Buffalo
Namdi Obiazor, TCU
Harold Perkins Jr., LSU
Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Jimmy Rolder, Michigan
Karson Sharar, Iowa
Xavian Sorey Jr., Arkansas
Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Josiah Trotter, Missouri
Scooby Williams, Texas A&M
Wade Woodaz, Clemson
Taurean York, Texas A&M
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Keith Abney II, Arizona State
Marcus Allen, North Carolina
Jadon Canady, Oregon
Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
Bud Clark, TCU
Tacario Davis, Washington
Mansoor Delane, LSU
Charles Demmings, Stephen F. Austin
Thaddeus Dixon, North Carolina
Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Daylen Everette, Georgia
Bishop Fitzgerald, USC
Andre Fuller, Toledo
Jaylon Guilbeau, Texas
TJ Hall, Iowa
Ahmari Harvey, Georgia Tech
A.J. Haulcy, LSU
Colton Hood, Tennessee
Jalen Huskey, Maryland
Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State
Domani Jackson, Alabama
Chris Johnson, San Diego State
Dalton Johnson, Arizona
Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina
Will Lee III, Texas A&M
Hezekiah Masses, Cal
Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
Latrell McCutchin Sr., Houston
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
Devin Moore, Florida
Louis Moore, Indiana
Ahmaad Moses, SMU
Malik Muhammad, Texas
Julian Neal, Arkansas
Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa
VJ Payne, Kansas State
D'Angelo Ponds, Indiana
Toriano Pride Jr., Missouri
Ephesians Prysock, Washington
Kamari Ramsey, USC
Chandler Rivers, Duke
Keionte Scott, Miami
DeShon Singleton, Nebraska
Avery Smith, Toledo
Genesis Smith, Arizona
Robert Spears-Jennings, Oklahoma
Treydan Stukes, Arizona
Lorenzo Styles Jr., Ohio State
Michael Taaffe, Texas
Avieon Terrell, Clemson
Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
Jakobe Thomas, Miami
Zakee Wheatley, Penn State
Collin Wright, Stanford
SPECIALISTS
Tommy Doman Jr., Florida
Ryan Eckley, Michigan State
Trey Smack, Florida
Drew Stevens, Iowa
Jack Stonehouse, Syracuse
Brett Thorson, Georgia
Dominic Zvada, Michigan
