The NFL released the list of players invited to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday.
A total of 319 prospects have been invited to attend this year’s event, including nine players from the 2025 IU football team.
The Combine will take place in Indianapolis from February 23 through March 2.
Here are the invitees from Indiana:
- Fernando Mendoza, QB
- Roman Hemby, RB
- Omar Cooper, Jr., WR
- Elijah Sarratt, WR
- Riley Nowakowski, TE
- Pat Coogan, C
- Aiden Fisher, LB
- Louis Moore, S
- D’Angelo Ponds, CB
A committee of professional NFL talent evaluators coordinates the process for selecting which prospects will attend the Combine. An invite is typically a clear signal a player is expected to be drafted or signed as an undrafted free agent.
Nine invitees is likely a program record for Indiana. The Combine dates back to the 1970s.
After winning the Heisman Trophy and leading IU to a 16-0 national championship season, Mendoza is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the April draft. Mendoza has already stated he does not plan to throw at the Combine.
Sarratt, Cooper, Jr. and Ponds have all received second round projections at various outlets. All of the other five players could be drafted in the later rounds.
A player not invited to the Combine can still be drafted or signed as a free agent. Mikail Kamara and Devan Boykin are two more players to watch.
Indiana is expected to hold its own scouting event in Bloomington for NFL representatives on April 1.
Tune in for live coverage of the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine beginning Feb. 26 on NFL Network and NFL+.
For complete coverage of IU football, GO HERE.
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