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BLOOMINGTON — Indiana football will make history in this week’s 2026 NFL Draft.
The Hoosiers are expected to send a record number of players to the NFL later this week starting with former IU quarterback Fernando Mendoza going No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. He won’t be the only former Indiana player to hear their name called with prominent mock drafts predicting as many as 10 IU players from last year’s team getting selected across the three-day event.
Indiana hasn’t had a player drafted in the first round since the New York Giants drafted receiver Thomas Lewis in 1994. The Hoosiers haven’t had a player drafted No. 1 overall in the modern era. Over the last two decades, IU hasn’t had more than three players drafted in a single year.
Here's a roundup of the latest projections:
More: Why Indiana football will 'look a lot different in the fall'
Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Projecting Indiana football 2026 NFL Draft selections
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The Hoosiers are expected to send a record number of players to the NFL later this week starting with former IU quarterback Fernando Mendoza going No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. He won’t be the only former Indiana player to hear their name called with prominent mock drafts predicting as many as 10 IU players from last year’s team getting selected across the three-day event.
Indiana hasn’t had a player drafted in the first round since the New York Giants drafted receiver Thomas Lewis in 1994. The Hoosiers haven’t had a player drafted No. 1 overall in the modern era. Over the last two decades, IU hasn’t had more than three players drafted in a single year.
Here's a roundup of the latest projections:
More: Why Indiana football will 'look a lot different in the fall'
ESPN.com (Jordan Reid)
- Fernando Mendoza, No. 1 (Round 1); Las Vegas Raiders
- Omar Cooper, No. 19 (Round 1); Carolina Panthers
- D’Angelo Ponds, No. 51 (Round 2); Carolina Panthers
- Elijah Sarratt, No. 94 (Round 3); Miami Dolphins
- Aiden Fisher, No. 126 (Round 4); Buffalo Bills
- Kaelon Black, No. 167 (Round 5); Houston Texans
- Riley Nowakowski, No. 181 (Round 5); Detroit Lions
- Pat Coogan, No. 187 (Round 6); Washington Commanders
- Roman Hemby, No. 226 (Round 7); Cincinnati Bengals
- Louis Moore, No. 256 (Round 7); Denver Broncos
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The Athletic (Dane Brugler)
- Fernando Mendoza, No. 1 (Round 1); Las Vegas Raiders
- Omar Cooper, No. 21 (Round 1); Pittsburgh Steelers
- D’Angelo Ponds, No. 50 (Round 2); Detroit Lions
- Elijah Sarratt, No. 67 (Round 3); Las Vegas Raiders
- Aiden Fisher, No. 176 (Round 4); Kansas City Chiefs
- Kaelon Black, No. 201 (Round 6); Green Bay Packers
- Louis Moore, No. 210 (Round 6); Kansas City Chiefs
- Riley Nowakowski, No. 231 (Round 7); Atlanta Falcons
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NFL.com (Chad Reuter)
- Aiden Fisher, No. 206 (Round 6); Cleveland Browns
- Fernando Mendoza, No. 1 (Round 1); Las Vegas Raiders
- Omar Cooper, No. 23 (Round 1); Philadelphia Eagles
- D’Angelo Ponds, No. 43 (Round 2); Miami Dolphins
- Elijah Sarratt, No. 70 (Round 3); Dallas Cowboys
- Kaelon Black, No. 164 (Round 5); Jacksonville Jaguars
- Louis Moore, No. 183 (Round 6); Arizona Cardinals
- Pat Coogan, No. 201 (Round 6); Pat Coogan
Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Projecting Indiana football 2026 NFL Draft selections
Continue reading...
