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When the 2026 NFL Draft starts at 8 p.m. Thursday, Maryland football could be represented as high as the first round.
Mansoor Delane, an LSU cornerback from Silver Spring, is considered one of the best players at his position and is projected to go in the first round.
A handful of others, including Penn State’s Dani Dennis-Sutton (McDonough) and Zakee Wheatley (Spalding), are expected to go on day two. Others are projected to go in the final rounds of the draft, and many are candidates to join teams on training camp invites.
From college athletes to local products, here are the players with Maryland ties who are draft eligible.
University of Maryland
Alan Herron, OL, UMD
A prospect out of Westmoreland, Jamaica, Herron transferred to Maryland for the 2024 season from Division II football. He became the starting right tackle and was on a line that allowed the fifth-fewest sacks in the nation. He was invited to the Combine and the Senior Bowl. NFL evaluators say he has the right size and traits, but he’s very unpolished. He’s a developmental prospect who is projected to go in the seventh round or be an undrafted free agent.
Jalen Huskey, S, UMD
A local player from Frederick, Huskey transferred to Maryland for the 2024 season and became the team’s starting safety. He had four interceptions and 72 tackles and earned a Combine invite. Huskey has good ball skills and is solid in run defense, but he lacks elite speed. He is projected to be drafted in the sixth or seventh round.
Shaleak Knotts, WR, UMD
Knotts arrived as a freshman in 2022 and slowly earned himself more playing time. He became a starter in 2025 and was the team leader in touchdown receptions (6) and receiving yards (717). Knotts is most likely to be an undrafted free agent looking for a camp invite.
Cam Rice, DL, UMD
Rice was a grad transfer in 2025 and earned Honorable Mention All-Big 10. As a starting defensive lineman, Rice had 33 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Rice is likely to be an undrafted free agent.
Octavian Smith, WR, UMD
A senior from Burtonsville, Smith finished his Maryland career tied for the 17th most all-time receptions in program history. He started the majority of games as a junior and senior. He had 43 catches for 529 yards this season. Smith is likely to be an undrafted free agent.
Navy
Brandon Chatman, WR, Navy
A starter at a position Navy calls “snipe,” Chatman contributed to both the pass and run game. He had 57 carries for 431 yards and 17 catches for 159 yards. He’s strong and has good hands. He is most likely to be an undrafted free agent.
Eli Heidenreich, RB, Navy
A standout high school player in Pittsburgh who led his team to a state championship, Heidenreich gets to go home for the NFL Draft. While at Navy, Heidenreich averaged over 6 yards per carry in each of his three seasons. Last season, he had 77 carries for 499 yards. He’s got size and toughness, if not elite speed. He’s versatile, adding to both the run and pass game. He is projected to go in the sixth round.
Blake Horvath, QB, Navy
A dual-threat quarterback, Horvath completed 97 of 160 pass attempts for 1,580 yards last season and rushed for 1,200 yards on 224 carries. He put up comparable numbers in 2024, as well. Horvath is likely to be an undrafted free agent. He is also considering flight school.
Landon Robinson, DT, Navy
Robinson is undersized for an NFL defensive lineman, but he’s very strong. He squatted 665 pounds and benched 465. He’s able to anchor, and he’s quick and disruptive. He had 64 tackles, including 8.5 for loss and 6.5 sacks last year. He is projected to be drafted in the sixth or seventh round.
Alex Tecza, RB, Navy
The team’s starting running back alongside high school teammate Heidenreich, Tecza had 158 carries for 902 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. He has good burst and vision, but he’s small for an NFL running back. He is likely to be an undrafted free agent.
Players to watch from Maryland
Jaishawn Barham, EDGE, Michigan
A linebacker from District Heights, Barham also attended St. Frances with Michigan teammate Moore. At Michigan, he had 32 tackles with four sacks and a forced fumble in 2025 while playing off the ball and rushing. He’s athletic but needs to develop his technique. He’s projected as a third-round pick.
Jude Bowry, OL, Boston College
Bowry, who is from Germantown, also attended St. Frances Academy in Baltimore. He became the starting left tackle in 2024 as a redshirt sophomore. He was invited to the Senior Bowl and the NFL combine and is described as having both a high ceiling and low floor due to his inconsistency. He is projected to go in the fourth round.
Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
One of the top cornerbacks in the draft, Delane is from Silver Spring and attended Archbishop Spalding. After a season with 45 tackles and 11 pass defenses, Delane was voted a consensus All-American. He has great technique, processing and speed, which projects to be a potential lockdown corner. He is projected to go in the first round.
Dani Dennis-Sutton, DE, PSU
Dennis-Sutton went to high school down the road from the Ravens at McDonogh. He finished his Penn State career tied fifth with seven forced fumbles and sixth with 23.5 career sacks. Last season, he had 42 tackles, including 12 for loss and eight sacks. Despite the sack production, he is evaluated as a better run defender because of his predictable pass rush moves. He won with toughness at the college level that might not translate to the NFL. He is projected to go in the third round.
Roman Hemby, RB, Indiana
A running back from Edgewood, Hemby was on the national championship team after transferring from Maryland. This year, he rushed for 230 carries and 1,120 yards with seven touchdowns. He’s a downhill runner but is not elusive. Hemby should be able contribute quickly in short yardage situations and can also participate in the pass game. He is projected to be drafted on day three.
Jeffrey M’Ba, DT, SMU
After growing up in France, M’Ba moved to the US and attended St. Frances Academy. He played for a handful of colleges before spending his 2025 season with SMU where he had 42 tackles, including 7.5 for loss and 5 sacks. He is both a developmental prospect and an old prospect at 26, but he’s a powerful player. He is likely to be an undrafted free agent, but he was invited to the combine.
Jalen McMurray, CB, Tennessee
A tough and trustworthy tackler from Upper Marlboro, McMurray is a fifth-year senior, which may hurt his draft stock. He had 56 tackles and two sacks as well as five pass defenses for Tennessee. He is projected to be an undrafted free agent.
Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan
Moore played for two top teams, St. Frances Academy in high school and Michigan’s national championship team. He had 30 tackles, including 10 sacks and two forced fumbles last season. He’s got great football IQ as well as pass rushing traits, but he isn’t as solid against the run. He is projected to be drafted in the third round.
Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
A Virginia native, Sarratt attended St. Frances Academy in Baltimore. He was one of the James Madison players who followed Curt Cignetti to Indiana and then won the national championship. He made 65 catches for 830 yards and 15 touchdowns. At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, Sarratt is a big receiver and plays like it, winning his contested catches. However, he is not great at getting separation. He’s projected to go in round four.
Trey Smack, K, Florida
The top-ranked kicker in the draft, according to PFF, this Severna Park player has the perfect name to go with his big leg. He can make field goals from 50 yards or farther without losing height. He also can pitch in as punter and is big and athletic enough to help tackle. He’s missed a few clutch kicks, but his consistent process makes it possible that he could make it at the NFL level. Whether he’s drafted or added as a camp invite will depend on whether teams want to take a kicker in the draft.
Zakee Wheatley, S, PSU
Wheatley is from Crofton and went to Archbishop Spalding High School before going to Penn State. As the Nittany Lions’ starting safety, Wheatley had 74 tackles, including two for loss, as well as a fumble recovery and interception. Wheatley is regarded for his upside. He showed consistent improvement over his college career and could eventually develop into an NFL starter. He is projected to go in the third round.
Other Maryland universities
Hugh “Bay” Harvey, QB, Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins’ all-time leading passer, this Switzerland native attended the Washington Commanders pro day for local prospects. He completed 233 of 349 passes for 3,304 yards and led his team to a 12-2 record. However, the draft is a long shot for this DIII prospect.
Erick Hunter, LB, Morgan State
A linebacker from Capitol Heights, Hunter is looking to be one of the rare HBCU drafted players. Hunter made 53 tackles, including 14 for loss and four sacks, last season, while also contributing three forced fumbles and an interception. He was named first-team All-MEAC. He also participated in the Commanders’ Pro Day and met with many NFL teams but is projected to be an undrafted free agent.
Other draft-eligible players from Maryland
The following players with Maryland ties have been listed as draft-eligible by the NFLPA.
- Chris Adams, OL, Memphis, Hagerstown
- Inumidun Ayo-Durojaiye, LB, Yale, Damascus
- Dominic Bailey, DL, Tennessee, Salisbury
- Joey Bearns III, TE, Charlotte, Calvert County
- Chad Brown, DB, Nevada, Columbia
- Jacob Busic, DL, Navy – UCLA, Westminster
- Mattheus Carroll, DL, Kent State, Baltimore
- Cameron Dorner, WR, North Texas, New Market
- Philip Florenzo, LS, Clemson, Towson
- Jeremiah Franklin, TE, Boston College, Walkersville
- Sidney Fugar, OL, Baylor, Waldorf
- Monkell Goodwine, DT, South Carolina, Upper Marlboro
- Samuel Graham, DB, Bowie State, Baltimore
- Donte Harrison, CB, NIU, Washington D.C.
- Adrian Hawkins, OL, South Dakota, Baltimore
- Xavier Holmes, DL, JMU, Clarksburg
- Keyshawn Hunter, DT, Delaware, Washington D.C.
- Dashawn Jones, DB, Alabama, Baltimore
- Jamal Jones, DL, Bowie State, Upper Marlboro
- Ryan Linthicum, C, Clemson, Damascus
- Michael Mack II, CB, Ohio, Glenn Dale
- Wayne Matthews III, LB Michigan State, Largo
- Mordecai McDaniel, S, Oklahoma State, Fort Washington
- Mitchell Melton, EDGE, Virginia, Silver Spring
- Josh Moten, CB, Southern Miss, Waldor
- Gabriel Nwosu, P, PSU, Derwood
- Luke Petitbon, OL, Florida State, Annapolis
- Zavier Price, RB, Lake Erie, Prince George’s
- Damian Ramos, K, LSU, Baltimore
- Anthony Smith, WR, East Carolina, Huntingtown
- Isaiah Smith, EDGE, SMU, Washington DC
- TJ Speight, WR, Monmouth, Forte Meade
- Aaron Turner, WR, Rice, Ellicott City
- Chazz Wallace, DL, NC State, Glenarden
- Justin Waters, LB, Charleston Southern, Reisterstown
- Jordan White, OL, Vanderbilt, Largo
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