The 2026 NFL Draft is set to take place from Thursday to Saturday in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the Oklahoma Sooners have 15 players from their 2025 roster who are eligible to be selected over the course of the three-day, seven-round event in the Steel City.
While not all 15 players will hear their name called, some will also have the chance to sign with teams as undrafted free agents, or earn a minicamp invite, where they'll try to impress coaches enough to make the roster. On the other hand, this draft is shaping up to be the most fruitful one of the Brent Venables era at Oklahoma, with a number of players as locks to be selected.
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Today, we'll look at all 15 draft-eligible players who were Sooners a season ago, taking stock of where their collegiate careers took them, and how likely they are to get drafted. Each of these players had exhausted their collegiate eligibility, and played at least their last season of college football at Oklahoma.
Here's every OU player who can be selected in this week's draft.
Wide receiver Deion Burks came to OU after spending three seasons (2021-2023) at Purdue, and he spent two seasons in Norman. After a strong start to his 2024 season, Burks was plagued by injuries the rest of the way. However, he chose to come back for his last year in 2025, helping Oklahoma make the College Football Playoff while catching 57 passes for 620 yards and four touchdowns. He'll hear his name called this week, as his electrifying speed and dynamic athleticism will be too much for NFL teams to pass up.
Linebacker Kendal Daniels came to Oklahoma after spending four seasons (2021-2024) at rival Oklahoma State. He spent just one year with the Sooners, but he made the most of it. Daniels was the starter at the cheetah position for OU last season, and he was excellent in the role, combining size, speed, and coverage ability to become the ultimate chess piece. He had 53 total tackles and a fumble recovery in 2025. Daniels is on the bubble when it comes to getting drafted, but he'll be an UFDA signing if he doesn't hear his name called.
Defensive lineman Gracen Halton spent all four years of his college career at OU, and he developed into a star at defensive tackle during his time in Norman. Halton didn't receive a start until the 2024 season, but he certainly made the most of his last two years, becoming one of the most fearsome members of Oklahoma's standout defensive front. After seven TFLs, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 2025, Halton is a lock to be drafted and has been impressing scouts and GMs during the draft process.
Tight end Will Huggins played at Kansas for four years (2020-2023), then spent the 2024 season at Pittsburg State, before spending his last college season at Oklahoma in 2025. As a backup tight end this past season for the Sooners, Huggins caught three passes for 21 yards, and saw his playing time decrease after the early portion of the season was over. Huggins was one of two draft-eligible Sooners who did not participate in OU's pro day back in March, so his chances of being drafted, or making a run at the NFL at all, are very, very slim.
Defensive lineman Marvin Jones Jr. spent two seasons (2022-2023) at Georgia, and played at Florida State in 2024, before finishing up his college days at OU in 2025. Jones made nine starts at defensive end for the Sooners this past season, giving Oklahoma another pass-rushing option off the edge. He made 21 total tackles, had five TFLS, and registered two sacks for the Sooners this past year. Jones has value late in the draft, and has good measurables, but he may find himself as an UDFA signing this week.
Tight end Jaren Kanak spent all four years of his collegiate career at Oklahoma, playing linebacker for the Sooners for the first three seasons, before switching to tight end last year. At linebacker, Kanak made 10 total starts in three years, but he ended up being much more effective for the Sooners on offense. Starting all 13 games last season, Kanak caught 44 passes for 533 yards, good for a 12.1 YPC average. He's on the draft bubble this week, and is a good bet to sign an UDFA contract if he isn't selected.
Wide receiver Keontez Lewis played at UCLA in 2021, spent two seasons (2022-2023) at Wisconsin, played the 2024 season at Southern Illinois, and then spent the 2025 season at Oklahoma. Lewis won a starting WR job out of fall camp, but injuries limited him to seven starts in nine games played. He caught 21 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns, and would have been more productive had he been healthy. Lewis likely won't be drafted, but he could end up as an UDFA signing or snag a minicamp invite to continue his football career.
Wide receiver Major Melson was the longest-tenured Sooner a year ago, spending all six years of his college career at OU. Melson played in two games in 2023, two games in 2024, then played in all 13 games in 2025, primarily in a special teams role. He was the last remaining player from the Lincoln Riley era to be on the roster at Oklahoma, and he had been a Sooner since 2020. Melson did not participate in OU's pro day last month, and his playing days have come to a close, as he's now a scouting assistant for the Sooners.
Offensive lineman Febechi Nwaiwu spent three seasons (2021-2023) at North Texas, before transferring to Oklahoma for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Nwaiwu quickly became the starter at right guard, and he was OU's best and most consistent offensive lineman for the past two years. Showing off his versatility, Nwaiwu stepped in to start the final two games of last season at center, despite never playing there before. He should be a lock to be selected this week, and he's been very impressive in the pre-draft process.
Running back Jaydn Ott spent three seasons (2022-2024) at Cal, before transferring to Oklahoma for the 2025 season. Ott's career in Norman failed to live up to the hype, as he carried the ball just 21 times for just 68 yards and had two catches for 10 yards this season. Whatever the reason, Ott did not deliver on the hype that arrived with him at OU. While did not have much production at all with the Sooners, Ott could still get drafted, based on his time at Cal, especially his 2023 season. If he's not selected, he'll likely be a candidate for an UDFA contract.
Offensive lineman Derek Simmons played at Tusculum in 2020, played at Abilene Christian in 2021, spent three seasons (2022-2024) at Western Carolina, then transferred to OU for his final year in 2025. Simmons played in 10 games, starting eight at right tackle for the Sooners, and stayed ready even after losing his job to younger players. He came back to start the final two games of the year, after OU's o-line shuffle. Simmons likely won't get drafted, but he could end up as an UDFA signing or snag a minicamp invite to continue his playing career.
Defensive back Robert Spears-Jennings spent all four years of his college career at OU, and he was the leader of the Oklahoma secondary last year from his safety position. Spears-Jennings was a starter for his final two seasons in Norman, and he was particularly effective in 2024. In his final season in 2025, he logged 59 total tackles, one interception, and one forced fumble. Spears-Jennings has excelled in the pre-draft process, and he should hear his name called this week, as he's got the size and athleticism NFL teams are looking for at DB.
Defensive lineman R Mason Thomas spent all four years of his college career at Oklahoma, and he became a starter for his last two seasons with the Sooners. Thomas was an absolute stud at defensive end, becoming a pass-rushing star and OU's closer over the past two years. As perhaps Oklahoma's best player in 2025, Thomas tallied 9.5 TFLs, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one unforgettable fumble recovery, despite only playing in about eight games. Thomas will be the first Sooner selected this week, either in the first or second round.
Kicker Austin Welch spent three seasons (2021-2023) at Eastern Kentucky, played for Kennesaw State in 2024, and transferred to OU for the 2025 season. After starting at Kennesaw State, Welch was the second-string kicker for the Sooners last year. He played in two games this past season, kicking off twice and missing one field goal. Welch's chances of getting drafted are very, very slim, but NFL teams are always looking for kickers, so he may wind up with a chance to make a roster, if he can get his foot in the door and make kicks.
Defensive lineman Damonic Williams spent two seasons at TCU (2022-2023), before transferring to OU for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Williams was a starter at defensive tackle for both of his years with the Sooners, helping to establish a dominant front line that has been the engine of the Oklahoma defense. In 2025, Williams tallied 27 total tackles, 4.5 TFLs, and 1.5 sacks, and he's been a great run defender for OU since he got to Norman. Williams is on the draft bubble this week. If he's not chosen, he'll very likely sign an UDFA contract.