The Indiana Hoosiers set a program record by sending nine players to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis last week. That is an incredible feat, but it's even more impressive when considering the fact that linebacker Aaron Casey was Indiana's lone representative at the combine two years ago. Indiana's nine representatives gives the Hoosiers a chance to break the program record for most players selected in a single NFL Draft, which currently stands at seven during the 1976 NFL Draft.
Big Ten QB rankings: Josh Hoover already receiving high praise as he takes over for Fernando Mendoza
Fernando Mendoza is garnering plenty of attention as the projected No. 1 overall pick, but several other Hoosiers are capable of making an immediate impact in the NFL. With that in mind, here is a look at where all nine former Hoosiers could end up when the draft rolls around in April.
QB Fernando Mendoza: 1st round, 1st overall (Las Vegas Raiders)
There's little doubt that anyone other than Fernando Mendoza will be selected with the 1st overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders. Just about every single mock draft out there has Mendoza going No. 1, and Raiders minority owner Tom Brady has even publicly praised Mendoza for his character and ability to turn a program around. Furthermore, DraftKings Sportsbook has Mendoza as the overwhelming favorite to go 1st overall, as he has odds of -20000 to hear his name called first.
Mendoza did not participate in any on-field drills or practices at the combine, but he was on the field stretching with other players and cheering on his Hoosier teammates. As Klint Kubiak begins his tenure in Las Vegas, look for Mendoza to become the second 1st overall pick in Indiana Football history following Corby Davis in 1938.
WR Omar Cooper Jr: 1st round, 21st overall (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Omar Cooper Jr. put together an impressive junior season in which he led the Hoosiers with 69 catches and 936 receiving yards. He also finished 2nd on the team with 13 receiving touchdowns. Cooper impressed scouts by running a 4.43 40-yard dash at the combine in Indianapolis last week, and the talented and speedy wideout is on the radar of at least 17 NFL teams. But the Pittsburgh Steelers would be a great fit for several reasons.
Most notably, Cooper has an established relationship with new Steelers WR coach Adam Henry. Henry spent the 2022 season in Bloomington as Indiana's co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. He recruited Cooper to IU, and a potential NFL reunion could make for a great situation for all parties involved. The Steelers have a great track record of drafting and developing wide receiver talent, and Cooper could be next in line to make an immediate impact on Sundays in the Steel City.
CB D'Angelo Ponds: 2nd round, 44th overall (New York Jets)
The Jets decided to move on from former 4th overall pick Sauce Gardner this past season, dealing him to the Colts on November 4. Needing new talent in the cornerback room, landing a talented player like D'Angelo Ponds on Day 2 would make perfect sense for Aaron Glenn's squad.
Ponds has seen his stock continue to rise over the past few months. Despite being relatively undersized at 5'9" and 170 pounds, Ponds proved he can shut town top-tier receiving talent in the Big Ten. This past season, he racked up 55 total tackles, nine pass deflections and three interceptions. He also posted an impressive 43.5-inch vertical jump at the combine, which was tied for 2nd among all participants this year and 4th in combine history among cornerbacks.
WR Elijah Sarratt: 3rd round, 73rd overall (New Orleans Saints)
There is arguably no team hungrier for wide receiver talent than the New Orleans Saints. The Saints finished 6-11 last season, but rookie gunslinger Tyler Shough posted a 5-4 record as New Orleans' QB1. He seems to be the guy heading into 2026, and now it's time to get him some receiving weapons. Elijah Sarratt could be a great addition.
Sarratt was among the most reliable receivers in all of college football this past season. In total, he hauled in 65 catches for 830 yards and led the entire country with 15 receiving touchdowns. Sarratt excels at bringing down contested catches, and ends his collegiate career with a contested catch rate of 60%. His skill set could be just what New Orleans head coach Kellen Moore is looking for.
C Pat Coogan: 5th round, 148th overall (Cleveland Browns)
Hoosier center Pat Coogan can provide immediate depth to any NFL offensive line in 2026. Coogan played a major role in Indiana's offensive success in 2025, as he started all 15 games at center. He got better and better as the season went on, and earned Offensive MVP honors in the Rose Bowl Game against Alabama. With the honor, he became the first offensive lineman to earn Rose Bowl MVP since USC's Norm Verry in 1944.
The Browns could be an ideal landing spot for Coogan, as one of Todd Monken's top priorities for Year 1 is building up the offensive line. The Browns have two picks in the 5th round (145 and 148 overall) and using one of them on Coogan could be advantageous.
LB Aiden Fisher: 5th round, 155th overall (Indianapolis Colts)
Aiden Fisher followed Curt Cignetti from James Madison to Indiana, and made the most of his opportunity with the Hoosiers. Fisher became Indiana’s first-ever First Team All-American linebacker in 2024, and was the first Hoosier defender to earn multiple First Team All-America honors.
Owning a 6'1" 232-pound frame, Fisher has all the tools to be a versatile linebacker at the next level. The Colts are a team with plenty of needs at linebacker, and moving right up the road to Indianapolis could be a great fit for his skill set.
S Louis Moore: 6th round, 199th overall (Cincinnati Bengals)
Louis Moore spent two different stints in Bloomington, playing for the Hoosiers in 2022, 2023, and 2025 with a season at Ole Miss in-between in 2024. He started all 15 games in the IU defensive backfield this past season, and earned Second Team All-American honors by the Associated Press.
It's no secret that the Cincinnati Bengals could use all the help they can get on defense, and that figures to be the top priority for the franchise in April's draft. Moore plays the middle of the field well and has the instincts needed to provide stability as an NFL safety. The Bengals own a pair of picks in the 6th round (189 and 199 overall), and grabbing a guy like Moore could be very beneficial.
RB Roman Hemby: 6th round, 205th overall (Detroit Lions)
The Detroit Lions recently traded RB David Montgomery to the Texans, and utilizing the NFL Draft to find another dynamic rusher to add to the backfield behind Jahmyr Gibbs could be a priority for Detroit. Roman Hemby could be the ideal candidate, as he racked up 1,120 yards and 4.9 yards per carry to go along with seven touchdowns for IU this past season. He possesses great speed and playmaking ability, and could be a great compliment to Gibbs' skill set in the Motor City.
TE Riley Nowakowski: 7th round, 228th overall (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Riley Nowakowski emerged into a solid receiving threat for the Hoosiers in 2025, as he led IU tight ends with 32 catches for 387 yards and two touchdowns. Cade Otton has been a reliable target for the Buccaneers over the last three seasons, but he is now testing the free agent waters. That's a lot of production to replace for the Bucs, as Otton was 2nd on the team with 59 catches for 572 yards this past season. Nowakowski has the potential to be a sneaky Day 3 pick, and a team like the Buccaneers could be an ideal landing spot.