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This list is smaller than it’s been in recent years.
Darrynton Evans just retired. The New Smyrna Beach High School alum spent six seasons as an NFL running back, most notably with the Chicago Bears.
Another ball-carrier from NSB, Raheem Mostert, hopes to rejoin this group soon. After spending last season with the Las Vegas Raiders, he reiterated his intentions to play this fall during an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd in March.
However, the 34-year-old remains a free agent. He’s played 11 years in the league.
Still, as July wanes and training camps kick off, five players from Volusia and Flagler counties reside on NFL rosters.
One just won a Super Bowl. Another signed a contract extension. Another is coming off a major injury. Another is looking to continue his breakout as a third-year pro. And another is a depth piece.
Here they are.
Dell hasn’t played since Dec. 21, 2024.
While catching a touchdown pass against the Kansas City Chiefs, he dislocated his knee, tore multiple ligaments and suffered meniscus damage. He missed the rest of that season and all of 2025.
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans expects Dell back at some point this year.
“It's not about how quickly he returns,” Ryans told reporters earlier this offseason. “It's just about Tank returning because we saw what Tank can do, the playmaking that he provides to our entire team. Just getting him back, whenever that time is, it's going to lift our team.”
During his first two NFL seasons, the Mainland alum showcased an explosive skill set. He amassed 98 receptions for 1,376 yards and 10 touchdowns in 25 games. If he returns and resembles his previous self at only 26 years old, he’d be one of Houston’s two best receivers with Nico Collins.
Holcomb has authored a story similar to Dell’s. He’s simply a chapter ahead.
In his debut season with the Steelers in 2023, the linebacker injured his knee, sitting out the rest of that fall and the entirety of 2024. He came back in 2025 and played 14 games, including three starts. He produced 37 tackles.
Holcomb earned Pittsburgh’s Ed Block Courage Award, which is given to a player who has shown resilience through an injury or life-altering situation. The organization inked him to a new two-year, $5 million deal in March.
The New Smyrna Beach and North Carolina alum was drafted by Washington in 2019. His best season occurred in 2021, when he racked up 142 tackles and grabbed two interceptions.
What will Year 3 bring for Hunt?
If it’s anything like his second NFL season, Philadelphia will love it.
In 2025, Hunt became the first Eagle ever to lead the team in sacks (6½) and interceptions (three) during the same season. He also contributed 53 tackles and forced two fumbles.
“He’s an athlete,” fellow Philadelphia edge rusher Jonathan Greenard said. “And how young he is and where his game could really go is crazy.”
Hunt turned 25 in March. Two years ago, he made history as the first player ever drafted out of University High School and Houston Christian University. Another campaign like last year’s will put him firmly on contract extension watch.
Layne comes with a caveat. Unlike the rest of the stars in this fraternity, he did not graduate from a Volusia-Flagler area high school. He began at DeLand before finishing at Sebastian River in Indian River County. But he’s from Volusia.
The 27-year-old safety remains with the Giants, the organization he’s called home for the past two seasons. In 2025, Layne was cut at the end of training camp. He immediately joined the practice squad, though, and New York promoted him to the active roster in December. He started a career-high two games, chipping in nine tackles.
After suiting up for Indiana, Layne went undrafted in 2022. He’s entering his fifth NFL season after two with the Los Angeles Chargers and two with the Giants.
Now age 32, Williams will show up to his 12th professional training camp with a few new titles.
Super Bowl champ. He and the Seahawks bullied the New England Patriots in February, netting him his first ring.
Dad. He and wife Hailey welcomed their first child, a son, in March.
And as of last week, the No. 1 defensive tackle in the NFL. ESPN surveyed more than 70 executives, coaches and scouts to rank the top 10 standouts at each position. They heaped praise on Williams.
“He was the most important player on that Super Bowl team,” an unnamed NFL coordinator said in the survey. “He’s the total package.”
Williams certainly performed like that last fall. The Mainland graduate sacked the quarterback seven times, accumulating 62 tackles (nine for loss) and providing plenty of pressure up the middle. He had one sack in the playoffs.
He cracked the Pro Bowl list the last two seasons.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: 5 Volusia-Flagler football stars on NFL rosters as 2026 training camps begin
Continue reading...
Darrynton Evans just retired. The New Smyrna Beach High School alum spent six seasons as an NFL running back, most notably with the Chicago Bears.
Another ball-carrier from NSB, Raheem Mostert, hopes to rejoin this group soon. After spending last season with the Las Vegas Raiders, he reiterated his intentions to play this fall during an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd in March.
However, the 34-year-old remains a free agent. He’s played 11 years in the league.
Still, as July wanes and training camps kick off, five players from Volusia and Flagler counties reside on NFL rosters.
One just won a Super Bowl. Another signed a contract extension. Another is coming off a major injury. Another is looking to continue his breakout as a third-year pro. And another is a depth piece.
Here they are.
Tank Dell, Houston Texans
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Dell hasn’t played since Dec. 21, 2024.
While catching a touchdown pass against the Kansas City Chiefs, he dislocated his knee, tore multiple ligaments and suffered meniscus damage. He missed the rest of that season and all of 2025.
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans expects Dell back at some point this year.
“It's not about how quickly he returns,” Ryans told reporters earlier this offseason. “It's just about Tank returning because we saw what Tank can do, the playmaking that he provides to our entire team. Just getting him back, whenever that time is, it's going to lift our team.”
During his first two NFL seasons, the Mainland alum showcased an explosive skill set. He amassed 98 receptions for 1,376 yards and 10 touchdowns in 25 games. If he returns and resembles his previous self at only 26 years old, he’d be one of Houston’s two best receivers with Nico Collins.
Cole Holcomb, Pittsburgh Steelers
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Holcomb has authored a story similar to Dell’s. He’s simply a chapter ahead.
In his debut season with the Steelers in 2023, the linebacker injured his knee, sitting out the rest of that fall and the entirety of 2024. He came back in 2025 and played 14 games, including three starts. He produced 37 tackles.
Holcomb earned Pittsburgh’s Ed Block Courage Award, which is given to a player who has shown resilience through an injury or life-altering situation. The organization inked him to a new two-year, $5 million deal in March.
The New Smyrna Beach and North Carolina alum was drafted by Washington in 2019. His best season occurred in 2021, when he racked up 142 tackles and grabbed two interceptions.
Jalyx Hunt, Philadelphia Eagles
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What will Year 3 bring for Hunt?
If it’s anything like his second NFL season, Philadelphia will love it.
In 2025, Hunt became the first Eagle ever to lead the team in sacks (6½) and interceptions (three) during the same season. He also contributed 53 tackles and forced two fumbles.
“He’s an athlete,” fellow Philadelphia edge rusher Jonathan Greenard said. “And how young he is and where his game could really go is crazy.”
Hunt turned 25 in March. Two years ago, he made history as the first player ever drafted out of University High School and Houston Christian University. Another campaign like last year’s will put him firmly on contract extension watch.
Raheem Layne, New York Giants
You must be registered for see images
Layne comes with a caveat. Unlike the rest of the stars in this fraternity, he did not graduate from a Volusia-Flagler area high school. He began at DeLand before finishing at Sebastian River in Indian River County. But he’s from Volusia.
The 27-year-old safety remains with the Giants, the organization he’s called home for the past two seasons. In 2025, Layne was cut at the end of training camp. He immediately joined the practice squad, though, and New York promoted him to the active roster in December. He started a career-high two games, chipping in nine tackles.
After suiting up for Indiana, Layne went undrafted in 2022. He’s entering his fifth NFL season after two with the Los Angeles Chargers and two with the Giants.
Leonard Williams, Seattle Seahawks
You must be registered for see images
Now age 32, Williams will show up to his 12th professional training camp with a few new titles.
Super Bowl champ. He and the Seahawks bullied the New England Patriots in February, netting him his first ring.
Dad. He and wife Hailey welcomed their first child, a son, in March.
And as of last week, the No. 1 defensive tackle in the NFL. ESPN surveyed more than 70 executives, coaches and scouts to rank the top 10 standouts at each position. They heaped praise on Williams.
“He was the most important player on that Super Bowl team,” an unnamed NFL coordinator said in the survey. “He’s the total package.”
Williams certainly performed like that last fall. The Mainland graduate sacked the quarterback seven times, accumulating 62 tackles (nine for loss) and providing plenty of pressure up the middle. He had one sack in the playoffs.
He cracked the Pro Bowl list the last two seasons.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: 5 Volusia-Flagler football stars on NFL rosters as 2026 training camps begin
Continue reading...
