South Florida’s 2026 NFL draft prospects who could hear their names called

Every year, the NFL receives an influx of prospects who hail from South Florida.

In 2026, there is another draft class filled with players who developed their game at Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach high schools.

But, on top of that, South Florida has produced the presumptive No. 1 pick in this draft.

After the foregone conclusion of quarterback Fernando Mendoza going to the Las Vegas Raiders with the top selection, there are several others who should hear their name called either later Thursday night in Round 1 or throughout the ensuing six rounds over the following two days.

These prospects all had different journeys.

Some were elite recruits out of high school who maintained that level of play through their college years. Others were passed over by top programs back then and had to rise in college to get to the doorstep of professional football.

Here are some high school football products who could be selected in 2026, as the NFL draft goes from Thursday to Saturday in Pittsburgh:

Rueben Bain Jr.; Edge; University of Miami; Miami Central High

Watching him on the field, he’s easily a top-10 pick this year, but in the pre-draft process, many are playing up his 30 7/8-inch arm length. That’s a less-than-ideal measurable for his position at the NFL level, but it’s Bain’s brute strength, power and ability to use his hands to violently shed blocks that make him an elite prospect who had 9 1/2 sacks and 15 1/2 tackles for loss last season. If he does drop out of the top 10, it might be a welcome sight for the Dolphins, picking at 11, to keep him in his hometown.

Coleman Bennett; RB; Kennesaw State; Cardinal Gibbons

Starting his college career at Rice, Bennett rushed for more than 700 yards last season at Kennesaw and has a shot to hear his name called in the late rounds.

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Wesley Bissainthe; LB; Miami; Miami Central

Bain’s teammate in both high school and college, they were both instrumental in helping get the Hurricanes back to the national title game last season. Bissainthe is a strong tackler who can diagnose plays, but he has physical limitations like being undersized for a linebacker at the next level at 225 pounds. He’s viewed as a Day 3 pick in the later rounds of the draft.

Romello Brinson; WR; SMU; Miami Northwestern

Starting off his college career with the Hurricanes, he followed former UM offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee to SMU and finished his college career with 638 receiving yards for the Mustangs last season. He could be a late draft pick or a priority undrafted free agent.

Camden Brown; WR; Georgia Southern; St. Thomas Aquinas

Started off at Auburn after his time at STA but found playing time transferring to Georgia Southern last year. The big 6-3 target went off for 65 receptions, 1,079 receiving yards and an eye-popping 14 touchdowns last season, making him a viable late selection.

Travis Burke; OL; Memphis; South Broward

As a tall tackle prospect, Burke didn’t get the recruiting looks out of South Broward in the 2021 class. He filled into his frame and fine-tuned his technique over two seasons at Gardner-Webb, the next two at FIU, where he was the starting left tackle and then last year at Memphis, where he was first-team All-American Athletic Conference as the starting right tackle. At 6-8 and 325 pounds, he’s capable of driving defenders but is questioned for how well he gets out into space to block. Burke could get selected in the middle rounds of the draft.

Amari Daniels; RB; Texas A&M; Miami Central

A standout since he was a freshman in high school, he peaked in college with nearly 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns between his 2023 and 2024 seasons with the Aggies before taking a backseat with his touches last year. At 5-8, 197 pounds, he has an outside shot of being drafted late.

CJ Donaldson; RB; Ohio State; Miami Gulliver Prep

A big, powerful back at 230 pounds, Donaldson led the Buckeyes with 10 rushing touchdowns last season after standing out at West Virginia the three seasons prior.

JoJo Evans Jr.; S; Louisville; Dwyer

Four colleges in six college seasons (Marshall, Kent State, FIU and finally Louisville) lead him into a chance to find a professional team. He recorded 93 tackles in 2024 with FIU to arrive at Louisville.

Ricardo Hallman; CB; Wisconsin; Miami Gardens TRU Prep Academy

Was at University School in Davie before his senior season was canceled during COVID. He had a whopping seven interceptions for the Badgers in 2023. With another two last season, Hallman is considered either a find for a team at the end of the draft or landing somewhere undrafted.

Gunnar Hansen; OL; Florida State; St. Thomas Aquinas

A left tackle for the Seminoles, he has positional versatility as a prospect. He transferred to FSU from Vanderbilt and finished his high school career with Aquinas after the Boca Raton native started off at American Heritage-Delray.

Marvin Jones Jr.; Edge; Oklahoma; American Heritage

The son of the Florida State great by the same name who had a 10-year NFL career, Junior started his college career at Georgia, transferred to FSU after two seasons and then ended up with the Sooners. He had four sacks with the Seminoles in 2024 and two more at FSU last year. Coached by great Dolphins cornerback Patrick Surtain in high school, Jones could be a late draft pick as a speed-rushing prospect.

Nyjalik Kelly; Edge; UCF; Dillard

He appeared to be on track for a promising career with the Hurricanes with four sacks as a freshman in 2022, but injuries the next season set him back and led to a transfer. He had 8 1/2 sacks over the next two seasons for the Knights. At 6-5 and with a long wingspan, he could be a valuable Day 3 selection for a team.

Hezekiah Masses; CB; California; Deerfield Beach

Made his way through FIU to end up at Cal and end up with first-team All-ACC honors as he came down with five interceptions and defended 13 passes. He could be a solid Day 3 pickup for an NFL team.

Fernando Mendoza; QB; Indiana; Miami Columbus

This year, South Florida is producing the presumptive No. 1 pick in the draft, set to go to the Las Vegas Raiders. Mendoza had a remarkable journey, not thought of as a top quarterback prospect when he was recruited out of high school. He took his one Power 5 offer, which was California, transferred to Indiana last year and won the Heisman while leading the Hoosiers to a national title victory over his hometown Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium.

Jeremiah McClendon; DB; Southern Illinois; Atlantic

Tied the SIU record in 2025 with 14 pass breakups and earned first-team All-Conference honors. A cornerback in college, a team could take a chance on him late in the draft as a versatile defensive back prospect who may play safety.

Kejon Owens; RB; FIU; Miami Central

Last year’s Conference-USA Offensive Player of the Year after running for 1,334 yards and 11 touchdowns. A 210-pound power rusher, he could be a late-round draft pick.

Patrick Payton; Edge; LSU; Miami Northwestern

Nearly 6-5, Payton is an athletic, long pass rusher who may need to build the power in his game to withstand blocks from NFL linemen. Spending four years at Florida State, where he collected 16 sacks in three years following a redshirt season, he started for the Tigers last year and now figures to be a Day 3 draft pick.

D’Angelo Ponds; CB; Indiana; Chaminade-Madonna

Similar to his teammate Mendoza, Ponds flew under the radar as a local prospect. Standing under 5-9, his size had much to do with that. He started his college career at James Madison before following coach Curt Cignetti to Indiana and capped his time with the Hoosiers by winning the championship back home. His elite speed and instincts, which flashed with a pick-six in the playoff semifinal win over Oregon, could make him a second-round pick.

Desmond Reid; RB; Pittsburgh; Miramar

A small, scat-back prospect who started off at Western Carolina before finding his way to Pitt. He can be a versatile, all-purpose playmaker for a team who can catch the ball out of the backfield.

Malik Rutherford; WR; Georgia Tech; Hialeah Champagnat Catholic

A speedy playmaker at 5-9, Rutherford finished his college career with three consecutive 500-yard-receiving seasons. A possible slot receiver option in the league, a team could take a chance on him late.

Tyreak Sapp; Edge; Florida; St. Thomas Aquinas

Can pack a punch at 273 pounds, but some analysts believe he’s a bit of a “tweener” with the game of an interior defensive lineman but frame of an edge rusher. His strength and power is undeniable, though, and it should get him drafted on Day 3.

R Mason Thomas; Edge; Oklahoma; Cardinal Gibbons

A first-team All-SEC selection last year with 6 1/2 sacks who had a whopping nine sacks the year prior. He possesses a tremendous first step off the line of scrimmage with his pass rush that can surprise blockers, but at 241 pounds, he lacks the power in his game against NFL blockers. Nonetheless, Thomas will likely be drafted in the second round with a shot he’s a late first-rounder.