The Miami Hurricanes lost in the national championship game, but with the Super Bowl over and the NFL Combine looming, the NFL is gearing up for the 2026 NFL Draft. With several former Miami players expected to be drafted this year, we are hosting a Q&A with the NFL fans around SB Nation’s extensive network.
Here are a few sentences on each potential Hurricane heading to the NFL, but I encourage you to drop your questions into the comments below. (If you’re visiting from and NFL team site and are logged
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What Miami football players are going to be drafted in 2026?
The Miami Hurricanes will have two top-5 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft as part of a deep group of prospects. Here is a list of everyone including folks that could be signed as undrafted free agents at the next level.
EDGE Rueben Bain
We’ve called Bain “The Destroyer of Worlds” for good reason. The 6’3” 275lb edge rusher is one of the best and most disruptive players in the country. A record-setting standout at Miami Central HS, Bain should have been a 5-star recruit in the class of 2023, but for inexplicable politics, wasn’t. Still, he is the kind of elite local player that Miami had seen go elsewhere in the past, but stayed home to play for the Canes instead.
Bain is in high consideration for the #2 overall pick in the NFL Draft, and could reasonably land anywhere from 2-6, depending on how the board falls.
Bain has a plethora of accolades to his credit. Freshman All-American. ACC Rookie of the Year. Consensus All-American. ACC Player of the Year. Ted Hendricks Award winner as the best Defensive End in the Country. And all of that for good reason: 54 tackles, 15.5 TFLs, 9.5 sacks, and an interception as a junior show only a part of what Bain can do.
There are debates about Bain’s best and future position due to his arm length (likely to be under 32”), but his combination of power, technique, and relentless motor will make him a great addition to any team.
OT Francis Mauigoa
At 6’6” 335lbs, Mauigoa (pronounced maui-NO-uh) is the prototype at offensive tackle. A 5-star recruit, Mauigoa moved from American Samoa to IMG Academy for his final 2 years of high school. He starred on IMG’s OL for 2 years, earning All-American honors both years before heading to Miami as a top 10 recruit. Mauigoa continued to play at an elite level at Miami, earning consensus All-American honors in 2025.
Mauigoa is a nailed-on first rounder, but his draft range is larger than Bain’s. Mauigoa has been mocked as high as 3rd overall, or as low as 21st. I think he’s a good bet to land somewhere between 6-13, however.
Mauigoa was a staple for Miami’s elite offensive line from the moment he set foot on campus, starting all 42 games in the 3 years of his college career. Mauigoa is equally adept at run blocking and pass blocking, and has the physical built and athleticism to stay outside at tackle. Could he move inside to guard? Sure, because he’s an elite lineman, but I think that would be a waste of his size and skill.
EDGE Akheem Mesidor
Mesidor transferred to Miami in 2022 after starting his career at West Virginia. The Ottawa, Ontario, Canada native has battled injury in the past, but played his best season in 2025 for the Hurricanes.
The 6’3” 265lb Mesidor is in the best shape of his career, and played like it in 2025. He posted a stat line of 63 tackles, 17.5 TFLs, 12.5 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles working opposite (and sometimes next to) Bain up front. The Bain-Mesidor tandem was the best in college football, and each player is a dynamic force in their own right.
With his stellar play in 2025, Mesidor has elevated his draft stock to the point he’s firmly in play for a 1st round pick. Anywhere from about 15 onward is a viable landing spot for the talented defender.
CB Keionte Scott
A transfer from Auburn, Scott is arguably the top slot defender in this draft. Whether you want to classify him as a slot corner or nickel safety is largely a matter of nomenclature. Regardless, Scott played that role (no matter what you call it) with excellence for Miami in 2025.
Scott was 1st team All-ACC in 2025, and would have been a finalist for the Thorpe award (if not the winner) if he hadn’t missed several games with a foot injury. His stat line shows his versatility and impact: 64 tackles, 13 TFLs, 5 sacks, 5 PBUs, 2 interceptions (both returned for touchdowns), 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumbles recovered.
While I have seen Scott mocked in the late 20s-30s for the NFL draft, he’s more likely to be a 2nd round pick.
QB Carson Beck
A polarizing player to be sure, Beck has started for 3 years at Georgia and Miami, leading each team to the College Football Playoffs in his tenure. Beck was a blue chip recruit coming out of Jacksonville (FL) Mandarin HS, and he largely lived up to those expectations, even without winning a National Championship.
The key for Beck will be his medical evaluation after sustaining an elbow injury in 2024. He’s a smart, accurate passer, but his arm is average, and the medicals will matter greatly for his future outlook, even after having played a full season post-surgery.
Beck is most likely a backup at the NFL level, and could come off the board anywhere from the 4th round onward. Anything above that would be because this QB class is a bit thin, and Beck performs well through the process at the combine and pro day.
WR C.J. Daniels
Daniels transferred to Miami after stints at Liberty, then LSU. He came back strong in 2025 after battling plantar fasciitis in his year at LSU, and immediately made a major impact on Miami’s offense.
Daniels had 50 catches for 557 yards and 7 TDs in 13 games for Miami in 2025. He’s a technician on the outside, with strong hands and solid athleticism. His success at the NFL level will come down to how well he’s able to create separation (an area for growth, for sure). Daniels is most likely a late round pick or UDFA.
OT Markel Bell
A 6’9” 340lb behemoth, Bell is a name that NFL fans are going to get to know quickly through this draft cycle. He transferred to Miami from Holmes Community College (MS), and immediately stepped into the rotation at Left Tackle in 2024, where he split time with 2025 Cincinnati Bengals draftee Jalen Rivers. He followed that up by taking the full-time starting LT role in 2025, and helped Miami get to the national championship game.
Bell will be a good developmental player for a team that can afford to let him sit for a year or two. He played well at the Senior Bowl, and he’s been on the radar all year. Teams flocked to him on the sidelines at last year’s Cam Ward pro day at Miami, so Bell has been a known commodity for a while.
Bell is probably the player with the widest range for where he could be drafted. He could as easily be drafted in the 2nd round as the 5th.
S Jakobe Thomas
An athletic safety, Thomas transferred to Miami after previous stints at Middle Tennessee State and Tennessee. He, along with Scott and several others, helped revamp the Miami secondary and defense. Thomas had 76 tackles, 4 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 5 interceptions (1 returned for touchdown), 6 PBUs, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 fumbles recovered for the national runners-up.
Thomas can be a quality special teams and defensive player in the right system. Like Mesidor and Scott, he’s on the older side for a draft-eligible player. He should be a middle round (4th/5th) pick.
IOL Anez Cooper
One of the hidden gems Miami has recruited and developed recently, Cooper was a 3-star prospect from rural Alabama who turned himself into a 4 year starter on Miami’s OL. At 6’6” 345lbs, Cooper is a big, physical guard who raises the floor at a minimum.
Cooper has the tools to be a good depth or rotation lineman at a minimum, and could easily work his way into being a starter after a year or two. Look for him to be picked in the middle rounds of the draft.
IOL James Brockermeyer
A cerebral lineman, Brockermeyer transferred to Miami after previous stops at Alabama and TCU. He’s a bit undersized at 6’3” 295lbs, but he makes up for the lack of size with heady, technical play.
Brockermeyer is a bit limited as he can only play one position, but he plays a valuable position, so that’s a benefit. Look for him to be a mid-to-late round pick.
LB Wesley Bissainthe
An athletic 6’2” 230lb defender, Bissainthe is another homegrown star recruited and developed by Miami. A 4-year contributor, Bissainthe is a fast, physical defender with plenty of potential.
I’d expect Bissainthe to be drafted in the late rounds to UDFA.
DL David Blay
Blay transferred to Miami after years at JUCO and Louisiana Tech. A big bodied lineman, Blay is adept at stopping the run and getting interior push against the pass. He’s got good size at 6’4” 305lbs, and could work his way onto a roster under the right circumstances.
I’d expect Blay to be drafted in the late rounds to UDFA
WR Keelan Marion
Marion transferred to Miami after years at BYU, where he was a receiver and All-American kick returner. Marion started slow, but ended up having solid season as a valuable 3rd down option for Carson Beck. Marion had 57 catches for 746 yards and 2 TDs on the year, and showed explosive speed and increasing skill through the season.
If Marion runs a blazing 40 time, he could move up a round. Otherwise, expect him picked somewhere in late rounds to UDFA.
K Carter Davis
A transfer from Florida Atlantic, Davis was Miami’s primary kicker last season. He went 17/24 on FGs last year, but was 14/16 in the regular season. He struggled to 3/8 in the playoffs (including a 1/4 day in a swirling wind at Texas A&M), so he’ll need to show well in the leadup to the draft to answer the questions that have recently arisen about his performance.
Expect him to be a 7th rounder or UDFA.
K Bert Auburn
A transfer from Texas, Auburn was the backup kicker in his year at Miami.
Expect him to be a UDFA.
Those are my quick to medium thoughts on the Hurricanes draft prospects. Drop your questions in the comments and let’s chat!
