Indiana football set numerous program records en route to its perfect 16-0 national championship season. Nine Hoosiers from the 2025 squad earned NFL combine invites, according to the league’s release Wednesday.
The combine is slated for Feb. 23 to March 2 in Indianapolis. On-field workouts will take place inside Lucas Oil Stadium, where Indiana defeated Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship on Dec. 6.
Offensive players
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who’s viewed as the consensus No. 1 overall pick, headlines the group. However, during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show“ last week, he said he won’t throw at the combine. Instead, he’ll throw at Indiana’s Pro Day, which is slated for April 1 in Bloomington.
“At the combine, you’re throwing to different receivers, it’s a whole different thing,” Mendoza said. “And I want to make sure I give my guys the best chance. I want to throw at Pro Day with my guys, with my running backs and be there with the boys. The combine, I don’t think throwing’s going to be a priority just because it’s such a quick turnaround.”
Offensive lineman Pat Coogan, running back Roman Hemby, tight end Riley Nowakowski and wide receivers Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr. round out the offensive players with invites.
Sarratt and Cooper are each projected to be second-round selections, according to the NFL Mock Draft Database. Sarratt led the nation with 15 receiving touchdowns while Cooper paced the Hoosiers with 937 yards receiving.
Coogan has a fifth-round projection while Hemby and Nowakowski have a sixth.
Defensive players
Defensive backs D’Angelo Ponds and Louis Moore and linebacker Aiden Fisher all earned invites.
Ponds left his mark as one of the best corners to don the Cream and Crimson. He notched five interceptions, 20 pass deflections and 118 total tackles throughout his two seasons in Bloomington. He’s a projected second-round selection.
Fisher made 215 tackles and 16 tackles for loss at Indiana, leading defensive coordinator Bryant Haines’ unit.
Moore returned to Bloomington for his final collegiate season in 2025 after spending 2022 and 2023 with the Hoosiers. He notched six interceptions – tied for second nationally — and 88 total tackles.
Moore has a fourth-round projection while Fisher has a fifth.
Notable Hoosiers without invites
Neither running back Kaelon Black nor edge rusher Mikail Kamara — both fifth-round projections — earned invites. Safety Devan Boykin, who graded as Pro Football Focus’ third-best Power Four safety in 2025, also wasn’t invited. Boykin has a seventh-round projection.
NFL combine on-field workouts are scheduled for Feb. 26 to March 1, while the NFL draft is slated for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.
