Indianapolis, IN.- The 2026 NFL Combine invitee roster has just been announced, with 319 prospective athletes preparing to take on the world’s biggest job interview later this month. At the Combine, these athletes will meet with Coaches, GM’s and scouts from across the League and rigorous media availabilities before finally putting their skills on display with on field workouts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Of these 319 Athletes, only 17 (just 5.3% invitees) will represent schools not in the Power 4 Conferences (ACC, Big 10, Big 12, SEC). These Conferences consist of the American, Mountain West, Sun Belt, Conference USA or other Independent Leagues. The entire roster of G5 athletes lists as follows:
Joe Fagnano- QB, UConn (FBS Independent)
Cole Payton- QB, North Dakota State (FCS)
Eli Heidenreich- RB, United States Naval Academy
Robert Henry Jr.- RB, UTSA
Skyler Bell- WR, UConn (FBS Independent)
Bryce Lance- WR, North Dakota State (FCS)
Jalen Walthall,- WR, Incarnate Word (FCS)
John Michael Gyllenborg- TE, Wyoming
Travis Burke- OL, Memphis
Kage Casey- OL, Boise State
Kaleb Proctor- DL, Southeastern Louisiana (FCS)
Red Murdock- LB, Buffalo
Charles Demmings- DB, Stephen F. Austin (FCS)
Andre Fuller- DB, Toledo
Chris Johnson- DB, San Diego State
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren- DB, Toledo
Avery Smith- DB, Toledo
A full conference breakdown lists as such: FCS (5), FBS Independent (2), MAC (4) American (3), Mountain West (3), SunBelt (0), Conference USA (0)
This serves as a massive decline in Group of 5 representation over the years. Looking back on the 2019 Combine, the final ‘Pre COVID-19 era” event, in a Combine totaling 337 athletes, 60 represented the G5, at a 17.8% total. Last year (2025), there were 21 G5 athletes out of 329 total (6.4%).
My question to you dear reader is simple: What’s the biggest reason for the decline in Group of 5 representation? Is it conference re-alignment? Is it the Transfer Portal/NIL era of college sports? Or is it some other factor?
Comment down below!
