The Indiana Hoosiers are primed to have a big weekend when the 2026 NFL Draft rolls around later this month. IU sent a program record nine players to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis in February, which has the Hoosiers well-positioned to potentially have the most players selected in a single NFL Draft in program history. The current record is seven from 1976, but Fernando Mendoza and company could very well reach or exceed that number.
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Among the Hoosiers expected to hear their names called during draft weekend is RB Roman Hemby. After a sensational season in Bloomington, Hemby is projected to be a Day 3 pick in Rounds 3-5. The latest mock draft from Saturday Blitz has Hemby teaming up with a Pro Bowl quarterback.
Roman Hemby could be a perfect fit for the Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are entering Year 2 of the Liam Coen era, and Pro Bowl QB Trevor Lawrence is entering his sixth NFL season. Lawrence has had an up-and-down NFL career thus far, but he is coming off a season in which he led Jacksonville to a 13-4 record by throwing for 4,007 yards to go along with 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Lawrence is set to enter the 2026 season without RB Travis Etienne for the first time in his NFL career. Etienne has been a mainstay in Jacksonville's backfield throughout since 2021, but he is now off to New Orleans. With Etienne out of the picture, Nicholas Rome of Saturday Blitz sees Hemby fitting in very nicely with the Jacksonville offense.
"This draft will likely see the Jaguars take multiple swings with running backs after the loss of Travis Etienne in free agency," says Rome. "Roman Hemby posted the most impressive season of his career after transferring to Indiana, and he's the type of explosive back who could excel in Liam Coen's offense."
This past season, Hemby helped lead the Hoosiers to a historic national title by running for 1,120 yards and 4.9 yards per carry to go along with seven touchdowns in 16 games. He was also a threat in the passing game, collecting 17 catches for 165 yards.
Hemby spent four seasons with Maryland before heading to Indiana, and ends his collegiate career with 3.467 yards and 34 total touchdowns to his name. His steady contributions have him poised to make noise in the NFL, and Hoosier fans are eager to see where he ends up. Jacksonville could make for the perfect landing spot.