The official invite list for the 2026 National Scouting Combine is officially out! After combing through the list, one of my favorite exercises is to try and gauge where this NFL Draft class may be deepest or shallowest. A good way to judge that is to look at this invite list and compare it to year’s past while also comparing it to how many players at each position get drafted every year.
I put together a quick table to look at that information, and will share some insights below from the notable positions, while also offering the full list of invitees as well as some surprising “combine snubs” at each spot.
| POS. | 2026 INVITES | 2025 INVITES | 5-YEAR AVERAGE INVITES | 5-YEAR AVERAGE DRAFTED |
| QB | 15 | 15 | 15.2 | 11.4 |
| RB | 21 | 31 | 29.2 | 21.0 |
| WR | 46 | 49 | 45.0 | 32.2 |
| TE | 27 | 21 | 21.0 | 15.4 |
| OL | 57 | 50 | 57.6 | 46.8 |
| EDGE | 34 | 33 | 31.6 | 28.0 |
| DL | 29 | 40 | 28.4 | 24.8 |
| LB | 29 | 29 | 29.4 | 20.6 |
| CB | 34 | 35 | 37.4 | 35.2 |
| S | 20 | 21 | 22.0 | 19.0 |
Quarterback
This class looks to be on par with classes of recent memory from a numbers standpoint, but there is one item to keep in mind. While most positions offer National Football Scouting (NFS) the flexibility to invite however many they see fit, at quarterback they don’t really have that luxury. Because they need a certain amount of quarterbacks in order to complete the wide receiver, tight end, and defensive back workouts, they will always have a number in that 14-18 range. Fifteen invites this year is right on the nose there. Here is the list of who will be in Indianapolis, in alphabetical order.
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
As far as players left off the list, the biggest surprise for me would be Iowa’s Mark Gronowski. The guy has played a TON of football, is one of the winningest quarterbacks in college football history (he went 49-6 as a starter at South Dakota State before transferring to Iowa last offseason), is tough as nails, and was one of the best quarterbacks at the Shrine Bowl. He’s a different style of player but had a similar résumé as last year’s biggest snub, former North Dakota State QB Cam Miller, who ended up getting drafted in April. I can definitely see the same thing happening here with Gronowski.
Running Back
This is not a great running back class, and the invite list to Indy reflects that. This is the fewest number of backs we’ve seen at the combine since before Covid, and by a wide margin. Just 21 guys make up this list, and I personally have one of them graded as a receiver (Heidenreich) and one as a tight end (Bredeson). Here’s who we will see taking the field at Lucas Oil Stadium in a matter of days.
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
Last year’s big snub for me was Arizona’s Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and he went on to get drafted and have a solid rookie season. Who could follow in his footsteps? It’s slim pickings this year, obviously, but if I had to go with a name or two I’d bring up Oklahoma’s Jaydn Ott and Toledo’s Chip Trayanum.
Ott was a ghost this year at Oklahoma but had a decorated career at Cal before that and I thought he reminded everyone of his talent level at the Senior Bowl. Trayanum is a big back and doesn’t have the same level of juice as Ott, but is a bit sturdier through contact. Both guys have shown good flashes in pass protection as well, which can always help a rookie upon entering the NFL.
Wide Receiver
There were more receivers invited to last year’s event, but this year’s number is still higher than the five-year average. There seems to be a surplus of wideouts available every year, and this season is no different. Here’s who we’ll see at the combine.
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
There were no real Earth-shattering surprises as far as names left off the invite list. There were a few Senior Bowl wideouts, including John Carroll’s Tyren Montgomery, Cincinnati’s Cyrus Allen and Boston College’s Lewis Bond, who did not make the cut. As I said when I was down there, however, it was not a great crop of Senior Bowl receivers this year, so it’s not a complete shock.
Tight End
Are we seeing a bit of a resurgence here at this position? Last year there were 21 players invited to Indy, and that was tied for the most in at least five trips to the combine. This year a whopping 27 tight ends will be at the event. It’s not that the group is chock full of blue-chip talent. We’ve seen more players go in the Top 50 in other springs than what we will see in April, but the depth is outstanding in this cycle. Here’s who is headed to Indy.
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
With so many guys getting the call, who didn’t make the cut that surprised me? I’m a big fan of NC State’s Cody Hardy; he’s one of the best blockers at the position that I’ve studied this year. Former Michigan quarterback-turned Syracuse TE Dan Villari was at the Senior Bowl and had some nice moments; he won’t be in Indy. It’s tough to pick nits with this group, though.
Offensive Line
Last year’s event featured an extremely low number of participants (50) at the position, but it leveled out a bit this year as this number hits the five-year average right on the nose. It’s a solid offensive line class with depth throughout. Here’s who is heading to the combine in the trenches.
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
Isaiah World, Oregon
Jeremiah Wright, Auburn
Trey Zuhn III, Texas A&M
My biggest snub last year was UNC C Willie Lampkin, and while I am not as aggrieved this year by any of the non-selections, there were a few names that surprised me a bit. Michigan G Giovanni El-Haadi has traits and looks like an NFL player on tape (albeit a backup). Dartmouth C Delby Lemieux and Wyoming G Caden Barnett both popped up close at the Shrine Bowl. At tackle, a couple of potentially deserving names included Iowa State’s James Neal, Penn State’s Nolan Rucci and Florida State’s Micah Pettus.
Edge Rusher
This edge rush group is on par with what we’ve seen from recent years in Indianapolis volume-wise, and it’s a pretty good group overall, with several players set to go pretty high in this first round. There’s a good mix of body types and skillsets here, and I’m excited to see them kick off the workout in a couple of weeks. Here’s who we’ll see in that opening session.
Vincent Anthony Jr., Duke
David Bailey, Texas Tech
Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
Jaishawn Barham, Michigan
Keyron Crawford, Auburn
Caden Curry, Ohio State
Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
Logan Fano, Utah
Keldric Faulk, Auburn
George Gumbs Jr., Florida
Romello Height, Texas Tech
Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
Aidan Hubbard, Northwestern
Quintayvious Hutchins, Boston College
Gabe Jacas, Illinois
Marvin Jones Jr., Oklahoma
Joshua Josephs, Tennessee
Nyjalik Kelly, UCF
Malachi Lawrence, UCF
Max Llewellyn, Iowa
Anthony Lucas, USC
Akheem Mesidor, Miami
Derrick Moore, Michigan
Trey Moore, Texas
LT Overton, Alabama
T.J. Parker, Clemson
Patrick Payton, LSU
Jack Pyburn, LSU
Mason Reiger, Wisconsin
Tyreak Sapp, Florida
R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
Nadame Tucker, Western Michigan
Wesley Williams, Duke
Zion Young, Missouri
I don’t have any huge issues with anyone left off the list this year at this position. There was one Senior Bowl participant (Cian Slone from NC State) who didn’t get the invite. New Mexico’s Keyshawn James-Newby was really productive this year and had some good moments off the edge at the Shrine Bowl. Indiana’s Mikail Kamara is a big name that was left off the list as well.
Defensive Tackle
After last year’s exorbitant number of 40 interior linemen earning invitations to the combine, we’ve seen it come back down to Earth a bit this year, with the number sitting above the five-year average with 29 big guys getting the call. Here is who we will see in Indy, in alphabetical order.
Cameron Ball, Arkansas
Caleb Banks, Florida
Nick Barrett, South Carolina
Rayshaun Benny, Michigan
DeMonte Capehart, Clemson
Brandon Cleveland, N.C. State
Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati
Zane Durant, Penn State
Bryson Eason, Tennessee
Deven Eastern, Minnesota
Skyler Gill-Howard, Texas Tech
David Gusta, Kentucky
Gracen Halton, Oklahoma
Zxavian Harris, Mississippi
Lee Hunter, Texas Tech
Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida State
Bobby Jamison-Travis, Auburn
Tim Keenan III, Alabama
Jackie Marshall, Baylor
Chris McClellan, Missouri
Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
Christen Miller, Georgia
Tyler Onyedim, Texas A&M
Domonique Orange, Iowa State
Kaleb Proctor, Southeastern Louisiana
Albert Regis, Texas A&M
Gary Smith III, UCLA
Damonic Williams, Oklahoma
Peter Woods, Clemson
I do have a few names not on this list that I would have liked to see in Indianapolis. Illinois’ James Thompson looked the part at the Shrine Bowl and has had a productive career when healthy in the Big Ten. I get that the body type may be an eliminating factor for some, but Navy’s Landon Robinson has piqued my interest throughout the process as an undersized three-technique. I didn’t love this player’s film, but SMU’s Jeffrey M’ba has fans out there and he did some nice things at the point of attack at the Senior Bowl.
Linebacker
This position has been a model of consistency, as 29 were invited this year, which matches both last year’s count as well as the five-year average. Honestly, one of the most notable things here is that Ohio State’s Arvell Reese is working with the linebackers and not the defensive linemen (although I’m sure he will do DL drills after his workout concludes). Here is the rest of the group.
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
This is one of my biggest beefs. I’m sad to not see Louisiana LB Jaden Dugger in Indy. I haven’t even gotten through the tape yet, but he’s a converted safety who came in at 6-foot-4, 250 pounds at the Shrine Bowl with outstanding length and he showed up in practice consistently. I would have loved to see him work out side-by-side with some of these guys. A few other notable names include Miami’s Mohamed Toure and Michigan’s Ernest Hausmann.
Cornerback
This is a weird cornerback class, because I think there are some really good players in the group and I think the middle of the draft just outside the Top 50 is really thick. But I think the talent drop-off is massive and much starker than normal. That’s reflected with this combine list, as ‘just’ 34 corners earned an invite, which is tied for the lowest number since 2020. Here’s who is headed to Indy.
Keith Abney II, Arizona State
Marcus Allen, North Carolina
Jadon Canady, Oregon
Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
Tacario Davis, Washington
Mansoor Delane, LSU
Charles Demmings, Stephen F. Austin
Thaddeus Dixon, North Carolina
Daylen Everette, Georgia
Andre Fuller, Toledo
Jaylon Guilbeau, Texas
TJ Hall, Iowa
Ahmari Harvey, Georgia Tech
Colton Hood, Tennessee
Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State
Domani Jackson, Alabama
Chris Johnson, San Diego State
Will Lee III, Texas A&M
Hezekiah Masses, Cal
Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
Latrell McCutchin Sr., Houston
Devin Moore, Florida
Malik Muhammad, Texas
Julian Neal, Arkansas
D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana
Toriano Pride Jr., Missouri
Ephesians Prysock, Washington
Chandler Rivers, Duke
Keionte Scott, Miami
Avery Smith, Toledo
Treydan Stukes, Arizona
Lorenzo Styles Jr., Ohio State
Avieon Terrell, Clemson
Collin Wright, Stanford
Because I don’t love the depth in the later rounds of this draft (from the sample of players that I’ve studied so far), there aren’t a lot of names that I was surprised to see left off here. I had a draftable grade on Nebraska CB Ceyair Wright, and I thought he was one of the better corners at the Shrine Bowl before being a late call-up to the Senior Bowl. Northwestern CB Fred Davis II was down in Mobile and has length that will attract teams. NC State’s Devon Marshall is smaller but he’s a feisty corner with some solid tape.
Safety
Like corner, the safety class is a bit light this year as well at the combine when compared to both last season as well as the five-year average. I do think the talent at the top of this class is better than a typical draft, but obviously the depth is what concerns NFL teams for the class as a whole. Here is who NFS felt deserved the invite.
Bud Clark, TCU
Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Bishop Fitzgerald, USC
A.J. Haulcy, LSU
Jalen Huskey, Maryland
Dalton Johnson, Arizona
Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
Louis Moore, Indiana
Ahmaad Moses, SMU
Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa
VJ Payne, Kansas State
Kamari Ramsey, USC
DeShon Singleton, Nebraska
Genesis Smith, Arizona
Robert Spears-Jennings, Oklahoma
Michael Taaffe, Texas
Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
Jakobe Thomas, Miami
Zakee Wheatley, Penn State
I can’t quit Missouri S Jalen Catalon, even though he turns 25 years old this spring. If he can stay healthy, I think he has starting ability in the NFL. I was disappointed he did not make the cut here. After him there were a couple of bigger-bodied safeties with coverage chops that I thought would get invited in Texas Tech’s Cole Wisniewski and Oregon State’s Skyler Thomas. Both guys impressed me a bit on the All-Star Circuit.
