The 2026 NFL Draft has come and gone, and the Indiana Hoosiers put forth a record-breaking showing.
After ripping off an undefeated 16-0 season en route to a historic National Championship, Curt Cignetti's Hoosiers set a program record by having eight players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The previous record was seven, which occurred 50 years ago in 1976. Back then, the NFL had only 28 teams and the draft featured a whopping 17 rounds. Things are much different now, as the draft includes just seven rounds for the league's 32 teams.
Indiana's draft takeover continues to showcase the job Cignetti has done in Bloomington, as the Hoosiers turn a once-overlooked program into a legitimate pipeline of pro-ready talent.
Indiana takes over NFL Draft in record-breaking fashion
Prior to 2026, Indiana had just 27 total players drafted since 2000. Furthermore, the program sent just one player to the NFL Combine back in 2024 (LB Aaron Casey). This year, the Hoosiers sent nine players to the combine, which was a program record.
Last year, the Hoosiers had just two players drafted and neither of them cracked the first three rounds. DT CJ West was selected in the 4th Round with No. 113 overall pick by the 49ers, while QB Kurtis Rourke also went to San Francisco in the 7th Round with the No. 227 overall selection.
With eight players picked this year, Indiana's impressive showing at the draft shows just how far the program has come with Cignetti at the helm.
Fernando Mendoza receives emotional message from his mom after going No. 1 overall
In addition, multiple Hoosiers were selected in the First Round for the first time ever. Heisman Trophy-winning QB Fernando Mendoza was the No. 1 overall pick by the Raiders, while WR Omar Cooper Jr. was the 30th overall selection by the Jets. Mendoza is the second No. 1 overall pick in Indiana history, following Richard Corbett “Corby” Davis, who was selected 1st overall by the Cleveland Rams in 1938.
Full list of Indiana players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft
IU's draft class is headlined by Mendoza, but all eight players have a chance to make an immediate impact at the next level.
- QB Fernando Mendoza: Round 1, Pick 1 (Las Vegas Raiders)
- WR Omar Cooper Jr: Round 1, Pick 30 (New York Jets)
- CB D'Angelo Ponds: Round 2, Pick 50 (New York Jets)
- RB Kaelon Black: Round 3, Pick 50 (San Francisco 49ers)
- WR Elijah Sarratt: Round 4, Pick 115 (Baltimore Ravens)
- TE Riley Nowakowski: Round 5, Pick 169 (Pittsburgh Steelers)
- C Pat Coogan: 6th Round, Pick 194 (Tennessee Titans)
- LB Aiden Fisher: 7th Round, Pick 243 (Houston Texans)
A program-record eight #NFLDraft picks. pic.twitter.com/qqkbyAQBgN
— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) April 25, 2026
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