Middle Tennessee ILB Parker Hughes selected 240th overall by Jacksonville Jaguars at 2026 NFL Draft

TL;DR

Parker Hughes, a linebacker from Middle Tennessee, was selected 240th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2026 NFL Draft. He is the first player drafted from Middle Tennessee since 2018.

Key points

Parker Hughes selected 240th overall by Jacksonville Jaguars
First player drafted from Middle Tennessee since 2018
Recorded 252 tackles and 15.5 tackles for loss in college
Showcased a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at Pro Day
Joins a linebacker room led by Foye Oluokun and others

Jacksonville JaguarsMiddle Tennessee Blue Raiders

TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 02: Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) gets stopped by Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders linebacker Parker Hughes (21) and safety Jakobe Thomas (30) during a college football game on September 02, 2023 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Conference USA finally arrived to the 2026 NFL Draft at pick No. 240. Middle Tennessee inside linebacker Parker Hughes was the league’s first representative at the draft in Pittsburgh, hearing his name called as the 240th overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round. Hughes is the first player drafted directly out of Middle Tennessee since wide receiver Richie James in 2018 and the first defensive Blue Raider taken since in 2016. Hughes spent all five college seasons in Murfreesboro, TN, even sticking with the through a head coaching change in December 2023. His production amplified in all five years, starting out as a safety that played 21 snaps in 2021 and concluding his Middle Tennessee tenure as a linebacker with 100 tackles, three tackles for loss, and two interceptions. The safety-turned-linebacker earned Second Team All-CUSA honors in 2025 as the Blue Raiders’ leading tackler. Without wearing another uniform, he totaled 252 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions, and six pass breakups during an accomplished college career. Hughes did not receive an invite to the NFL Combine, but the Middle Tennessee alum tested his mettle at Pro Day. The 6’1”, 228 pound linebacker showcased elite linebacker speed, registering a 4.39-second 40-yard dash — which would have ranked first among all linebackers at the 2026 Combine. Hughes moves southeast to Duval County, where he joins the reigning AFC South champion Jacksonville Jaguars. The linebacker room is currently led by , , , and . Hughes looks to learn from those veterans while establishing a name of his own, as his NFL career officially launched Saturday as pick No. 240.

Q&A

Who is Parker Hughes and what are his college stats?

Parker Hughes is a linebacker from Middle Tennessee who recorded 252 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, and two interceptions during his college career.

What round was Parker Hughes selected in the 2026 NFL Draft?

Parker Hughes was selected in the seventh round as the 240th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Which team drafted Parker Hughes in the NFL Draft?

Parker Hughes was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Middle Tennessee ILB Parker Hughes selected 240th overall by Jacksonville Jaguars at 2026 NFL Draft

TL;DR

Key points

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