ARLINGTON, Texas – Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic alumni were abundant throughout the 2026 National Football League Draft with 31 selections over the three-day event in Pittsburgh.
 
The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic boasted at least four alums drafted in the first round for the sixth-straight year with seven selected on the first day this year. Impressively, six of the first 15 draft selections played in the Classic. Ohio State's Carnell Tate was the first Classic alum selected as the fourth overall pick by the Tennessee Titans. Tate played in three Classics (88th, 89th and 90th) and was the Dan S. Petty Scholar-Athlete Award recipient for the Buckeyes for the 90th Classic.
 
Ohio State led the way with 12 Cotton Bowl Classic alums drafted, followed by Miami with nine and Texas with five. The Buckeyes had one of the most impressive NFL Drafts in recent history with three of the top seven and four of the top 11 picks. Miami's nine draft picks were the most for the program since 2017 and tied for the third-most among any program in the nation.
 
Rounding out the Cotton Bowl Classic alums hearing their names called were two who appeared with Southern California and one each who appeared with Cincinnati, Oklahoma and Tulane.
 
Follow the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and TikTok.
 
GOODYEAR COTTON BOWL CLASSIC ALUMS IN THE 2026 NFL DRAFT
Round (Pick) Name, School – NFL Team
1 (4) Carnell Tate, Ohio State – Tennessee Titans
1 (5) Arvell Reese, Ohio State – New York Giants
1 (7) Sonny Styles, Ohio State – Washington Commanders
1 (10) Francis Mauigoa, Miami – New York Giants
1 (11) Caleb Downs, Ohio State – Dallas Cowboys
1 (15) Rueben Bain Jr., Miami – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1 (22) Akheem Mesidor, Miami – Los Angeles Chargers
2 (36) Kayden McDonald, Ohio State – Houston Texans
2 (60) Anthony Hill Jr., Texas – Tennessee Titans
2 (61) Max Klare, Ohio State – Los Angeles Rams
2 (62) Davison Igobinosun, Ohio State – Buffalo Bills
3 (65) Carson Beck, Miami – Arizona Cardinals
3 (68) Markel Bell, Miami – Philadelphia Eagles
3 (87) Will Kacmarek, Ohio State – Miami Dolphins
3 (98) Jakobe Thomas, Miami – Minnesota Vikings
4 (109) Jadon Canady, Tulane – Kansas City Chiefs
4 (116) Keionte Scott, Miami – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4 (124) Malik Muhammad, Texas – Chicago Bears
4 (130) Trey Moore, Texas – Miami Dolphins
5 (158) Michael Taaffe, Texas – Miami Dolphins
5 (170) Joe Royer, Ohio State – Cleveland Browns
5 (172) Lorenzo Styles Jr., Ohio State – New Orleans Saints
6 (188) Anez Cooper, Miami – New York Jets
6 (197) CJ Daniels, Miami – Los Angeles Rams
6 (200) DJ Campbell, Texas – Miami Dolphins
6 (202) Domani Jackson, Southern California – Green Bay Packers
6 (203) C.J. Williams, Southern California – Jacksonville Jaguars
6 (214) Caden Curry, Ohio State – Indianapolis Colts
7 (231) Ethan Onianwa, Ohio State – Atlanta Falcons
7 (235) Gavin Gerhardt, Cincinnati – Minnesota Vikings
7 (237) Seth McGowan, Oklahoma – Indianapolis Colts
 
Along with the collection of Classic alums, a total of 50 players drafted competed in or were on the roster for at least a collegiate game played at AT&T Stadium:
 
Round (Pick) Name, School – NFL Team
1 (2) David Bailey, Texas Tech – New York Jets
1 (8) Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State – New Orleans Saints^
1 (21) Max Iheanachor, Arizona State – Pittsburgh Steelers
2 (43) Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech – Miami Dolphins
2 (49) Lee Hunter, Texas Tech – Carolina Panthers
2 (64) Bud Clark, TCU – Seattle Seahawks
2 (66) Tyler Onyedim, Iowa State – Denver Broncos
3 (70) Romello Height, Texas Tech – San Francisco 49ers
3 (75) Caleb Douglas, Texas Tech – Miami Dolphins
3 (82) Domonique Orange, Iowa State – Minnesota Vikings
5 (143) Reggie Virgil, Texas Tech – Arizona Cardinals
5 (144) Sam Hecht, Kansas State – Carolina Panthers
5 (157) Keith Abney II, Arizona State – Detroit Lions
5 (166) Keyshaun Elliott, Arizona State – Chicago Bears
6 (193) Jack Kelly, BYU – New York Giants
6 (205) Skyler Gill-Howard, Texas Tech – Detroit Lions^
6 (212) Namdi Obiazor, TCU – New England Patriots
7 (228) VJ Payne, Kansas State – New York Jets
7 (234) Behren Morton, Texas Tech – New England Patriots
7 (244) Cole Wisniewski, Texas Tech – Philadelphia Eagles
7 (248) Carsen Ryan, BYU – Cleveland Browns
 
*Was a redshirt when his team played in the Cotton Bowl Classic or at AT&T Stadium
^Was injured or did not play when his team played in the Cotton Bowl Classic or at AT&T Stadium