The 2026 Jaguars draft class is in the books!
10 prospects received a phone call from a 904 number this weekend, welcoming them to Jacksonville and the NFL. Some names will be familiar to us, others less so. But what is there to learn about the newest members of Duval Nation?
We bring you five things to know about each new member of the Jags’ roster, next up looking at third-round selection Albert Regis, DT, Texas A&M.
Swat team leader
Albert Regis is a rare breed for a modern day draft pick, having spent all of his college career with one school. The defensive tackle played five seasons for Texas A&M, redshirting in 2021 before going on to star in 49 games his final four years at College Station.
A stout presence on the defensive interior, Regis added a valuable element to his game as a junior, breaking up six passes at the line of scrimmage. In total, Regis swatted the ball ten times as he helped establish the Aggies as a force to be reckoned with under Mike Elko.
The AFC South is no stranger to a dominant defensive lineman, particularly one that infuriates quarterbacks by getting their hand in the way of a pass. In ten years with the Houston Texans, JJ Watt knocked down an incredible 61 times in a career that saw him earn Defensive Player of the Year honors three times. If Regis can come anywhere close to the production ‘JJ Swatt’ had in this division, the Jaguars are well set.
Two way star
Standing at 6’1” and over 300 pounds, it’s difficult to imagine Albert Regis as a dynamic athlete who could moonlight at a skill position on offense when he isn’t busy destroying pass protection or clogging run lanes. But that’s exactly what the defensive tackle did back in high school…
Starring for La Porte High School in Texas, Regis was often seen lining up as a ‘move’ tight end, able to play along the line of scrimmage or even in the backfield as a h-back or a fullback. During the 2020 season, the high school senior managed to record seven receptions as a tight end for a total of 73 yards, helping the Bulldogs to a 3-4 record in district play.
A modest output maybe, but MaxPreps’ scouting profile of Regis describe him as having ‘Described as having a high motor with lateral agility, solid ball skills, and high-pointing ability’ as a tight end. Liam Coen couldn’t, could he?
Unsung hero
As so many interior defensive linemen tend to do, Albert Regis flew somewhat under the radar at Texas A&M. Not a position that gets the most attention, his contribution to the team did not go unnoticed by his head coach Mike Elko, who appreciated the nose tackle’s ability to dictate terms in the run game:
“I’ve said this before, I do believe he’s one of the most unsung members of this defense. What he does for us, being stout in the middle, being physical at the point, he’s a challenge to block. Double teams struggle to move him. He does a really, really good job of anchoring our run defense.”
No game more epitomised Regis’ ability to control the trenches quite like his performance against Notre Dame last September, where he made seven tackles (five solo) as the Aggies shocked the Fighting Irish 41-40 in South Bend. Jaguars fans will be quite happy to see him shut down Jonathan Taylor, David Montgomery and Tony Pollard in a similar fashion in 2026.
Paternal motivation
After a breakout season in the SEC in 2024, many expected Albert Regis to declare for the draft a year early. But his commitment to his young family made him re-evaluate his immediate priorities; Albert was soon to be a father, with his daughter Akari born in June last year. With parenthood inbound, Regis decided to return to school, complete his degree and further improve his draft stock with another strong season in College Station.
Regis became the first person in his family to graduate. After his senior year was over, his focus turned to the NFL Draft, using Akari and his fiancee Kaley as motivation to push further. He credits them for giving him the ‘rejuvenation’ needed to record a sub-five second 40-yard dash time, seldom seen for a 300 pound defensive lineman.
In a twist of fate, on the morning of the draft Regis placed four cups with different NFL team logos on the floor. Akari crawled straight to the Jaguars cup, predicting the future for her father. Only hours later, James Gladstone made it official, selecting Albert with the 81st overall pick.
The chicken nugget diet
When thinking of healthy foods that will help you lose weight, your mind isn’t immediately drawn to chicken nuggets. In fact, the delicious crispy treats often found in takeaways and dunked in dirty sauce is usually one of the guilty pleasures you need to forego in order to be fighting fit.
Not so Regis, who wanted to drop 20 pounds ahead of his Pro Day in order to be at his peak when showing out for NFL scouts. He found it difficult to dip below 310; his body ‘plateauing’ in his pursuit of a more chiselled physique. But surprisingly, the humble nugget came to his rescue…
“I just couldn’t get that last bit off, so I lowered my carb intake. I mean, for dinner, I was eating these protein chicken nuggets you can air fry. I was eating a salad with that and some fruit.”
The result? Regis was one of the strongest pro day performers amongst his peers, casually racking up 27 reps on the bench press despite the weight loss. With Jacksonville his home for the next four years, should Regis head to The Bearded Pig or Jax Hot Chicken? Let us know in the comments below!
