The Indiana Hoosiers took the 2026 NFL Draft by storm. Led by Fernando Mendoza going No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders, Indiana set a program record by having eight total players selected in April's draft. Looking ahead, the 2027 NFL Draft could also be a big one for the IU program.
Several Hoosiers are already garnering First Round hype, and it's quite possible that Indiana has multiple players selected in the First Round for the second year in a row. With that in mind, here are 3 Hoosiers who NFL teams will be racing to select in next year's draft.
WR Charlie Becker
Charlie Becker burst onto the scene in the second half of last season, and played a vital role in Indiana's College Football Playoff run. The 6'4" 207-pound playmaker didn't make his first start until Indiana's 8th game of the season against UCLA, and racked up 27 catches for 522 yards and 3 touchdown over IU's final 7 games of the season. In total, Becker totaled 34 catches for 679 yards and 4 touchdowns on the season.
Becker was at his best under the brightest lights, and made several memorable plays in the playoff. He excels at bringing down contested catches and back should throws, and that skill set is extremely transferable to the NFL level. Becker was projected as a First Round selection by CBS Sports earlier this offseason, and ESPN ranked him as the No. 4 wide receiver in the country entering the new season. The hype is real, and Hoosier fans are excited to see what the Nashville native can do in the fall.
WR Nick Marsh
Nick Marsh comes to Bloomington with plenty of hype. When he committed to Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers through the portal earlier this offseason, the 6'3" 203-pound wideout was ranked as the No. 17 overall player and No. 2 wide receiver on the market by On3. The former Michigan State Spartan is coming off an impressive 2025-26 campaign in which he led MSU with 59 catches, 662 receiving yards, and 6 receiving touchdowns.
Marsh has a tremendous ability to rack up yards after the catch, and like Becker, he possesses First Round potential. Marsh also has eye-popping speed, great hands, and elite athleticism, which makes him a lethal threat in Indiana's passing game this season. If he puts together a strong season, his draft stock is sure to skyrocket.
OT Carter Smith
There's no denying that Carter Smith is among the most reliable offensive linemen in all of college football. Smith has made 41 consecutive starts at left tackle for the Hoosiers dating back to the 2023 season, and played a vital role in keeping Fernando Mendoza upright during his Heisman Trophy-winning season. Owning a 6'5" 308-pound frame, Smith has allowed just 4 sacks over 2,516 snaps in his career in Bloomington. Those efforts helped him lead an IU offensive line that was named semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award in both 2024 and 2025.
Smith etched his name into the hisotry books last season by becoming the first Hoosier to win the Big Ten’s Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year award. He is among the best overall players returning to college football in 2026-27, and his NFL Draft stock should continue to rise throughout the season.
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