The 2026 NFL Draft has came and went, with 257 athletes receiving the life changing call of their dreams. During the Draft, 8 South Florida native athletes were selected, with another 11 being signed as Undrafted Free Agents. Here’s a closer look at the local standouts who heard their names called throughout this weekend.

Drafted Players

QB Fernando Mendoza (R1, Pick 1: Las Vegas Raiders)- Miami Columbus 

EDGE Reuben Bain (R1, Pick 15: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)- Miami Central 

EDGE R Mason Thomas (R2, Pick 40: Kansas City Chiefs)- Gibbons 

DB D’Angelo Ponds (R2, Pick 50: New York Jets) – Chaminade Madonna

EDGE Gabe Jacas (R2, Pick 55: New England Patriots)- Ft. Pierce Central

OT Travis Burke (R4, Pick 117: Los Angeles Chargers)- South Broward

DB Hezekiah Masses (R5, Pick 175: Las Vegas Raiders)- Deerfield Beach

DB Andre Fuller (R7, Pick 236: Seattle Seahawks)- Seminole Ridge

Undrafted Free Agents

RB Coleman Bennett (UDFA, Bears) – Cardinal Gibbons

LB Wesley Bissainthe (UDFA, Chiefs) – Miami Central

WR Romello Brinson (UDFA, Dolphins) – Miami Northwestern

WR Camden Brown (UDFA, Cowboys) – St Thomas Aquinas

OT Kevin Cline (UDFA, Dolphins) – Boca Raton Christian

RB CJ Donaldson (UDFA, Saints) – Gulliver Prep

RB Anthony Hankerson (UDFA, Dolphins)- St. Thomas Aquinas

EDGE Nyjalik Kelly (UDFA, Packers)- Dillard

DB Jeremiah McClendon (UDFA, Saints) – Atlantic

TE Chamon Metayer (UDFA, Steelers)- North Miami

RB KeJon Owens (UDFA, Vikings) – Miami Central

RB Desmond Reid (UDFA, Bills) – Miramar

WR Malik Rutherford (UDFA, Falcons) – Champagnat

EDGE Tyreak Sapp (UDFA, Browns) – St Thomas Aquinas

South Florida once again proved why it remains one of the premier pipelines for football talent in the country. With stars emerging at every level of the draft and beyond, the region continues to develop players ready for the next stage. And if history says anything, this latest wave of crib stars is more than prepared to carry on that lineage and produce on Sundays.

Cover Photo Credits: Las Vegas Raiders