2026 NFL Draft: American Conference prospects to watch
· Yahoo Sports
For the fourth-straight year, the American Conference did not produce a first-round NFL Draft selection. Although that streak remains in tact, the conference remains rich in talent for the six remaining rounds, similar to previous years.
In 2025, the American generated six draft picks with East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. and Tulane cornerback Caleb Ransaw hearing their names first as day two selections. This year, the league aims to match or exceed that number. Four American prospects were invited to the 2026 NFL Combine — Eli Heidenreich, Travis Burke, Robert Henry Jr., and Chris Adams — and these are among the conference’s most likely day two and day three selections in the 2026 draft. However, there are also several intriguing non-Combine invites that may elicit interest from NFL franchises.
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Here’s a look at 10 American Conference prospects to monitor during the final six rounds on Friday and Saturday, as well as during the early stages of post-draft free agency:
Eli Heidenreich, RB/WR, Navy
6’0”, 198 pounds
NFL Combine measurements: 4.44-second 40-yard dash; 35.5-inch vertical; 10-foot-0-inch broad jump
Heidenreich is one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2026 class. Is he a running back? Is he a wide receiver? What does he look like outside of a hybrid wing T offense? Those questions will be answered when a team takes a flier on him, but the Navy skill position standout offers a versatile range of talents from rushing to receiving to blocking. The program’s all-time leading receiver, Heidenreich is fresh off a record 941-yard season where he notched six touchdowns and averaged 18.5 yards per catch. He also proved to be an explosive runner with 499 yards and three touchdowns on a 6.5 average. As a Pittsburgh native, he will be in attendance when his name is inevitably called at the 2026 draft.
Travis Burke, OT, Memphis
6’9”, 325 pounds
NFL Combine measurements: 5.18-second 40-yard dash; 27-inch vertical; 8-foot-11-inch broad jump
Burke’s college career saw three stops. He originated at FCS Gardner-Webb where he played two seasons, transitioned to FIU for another two years, and moved to Memphis for one final stand. Burke started 11 games at right tackle for the Tigers before missing the final two contests with an injury — an injury which held him out of the East-West Shrine Bowl. The 6’9”, 325 tackle still participated in NFL Combine drills, clocking in at 5.18 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Not only does he present size, but experience is another one of Burke’s perks, as he enters the NFL stage with 33 FBS starts under his belt.
Landon Robinson, DT, Navy
5’11”, 293 pounds
Pro Day measurements: 4.91-second 40-yard dash; 32.5-inch vertical; 9-foot-2-inch broad jump; 4.48-second shuttle; 7.28-second 3-cone drill; 30 bench press reps
Robinson was as shocking of a snub from the NFL Combine as anybody in the country. The star Navy defensive tackle claimed the American Defensive Player of the Year honors and was recognized as a First Team All-American by the AP, FWAA, Sports Illustrated, and USA Today. A freak athlete with a 465-pound bench press, a 665-pound squat, and 20.13 miles per hour clocked on the Catapult tracking system, Robinson offers plenty in his arsenal. He is undersized at 5’11” and 293 but makes up for it with elite strength and athleticism and with his play. In 2025, he racked up 6.5 sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 64 tackles for a Navy team that tied a record in single-season wins.
Robert Henry Jr., RB, UTSA
6’4”, 206 pounds
NFL Combine measurements: 4.52-second 40-yard dash; 37-inch vertical; 10-foot-4-inch broad jump; 4.31-second shuttle
Henry rattled off a 6-game stretch from the tail end of 2024 through the start of 2025 where he recorded six-straight 140+ rushing performances. The UTSA tailback was borderline unstoppable toward the beginning of last season, totaling five 74+ yard touchdowns in his first four contests. Injuries ultimately slowed down the First Team All-American Conference running back, but he still managed 1,045 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on a 6.9 average in 2025. That 6.9 average ranked third among all 1,000-yard FBS rushers last year, and his explosiveness invoked fear into defenses. The explosive tailback earned a Combine invite and could warrant a day three selection.
Chris Adams, OT, Memphis
6’5”, 311 pounds
NFL Combine measurements: 6.00-second 40-yard dash; 24-inch vertical; 7-foot-8-inch broad jump; 5.26-second shuttle; 8.57-second 3-cone drill; 11 bench press reps
Adams is one of two Memphis Tiger tackles to earn an NFL Combine invite this winter. Like his counterpart Travis Burke, Adams transferred to Memphis after accruing valuable experience at another FBS institution. He was poised to start on Old Dominion’s o-line in 2022, but a season-ending injury in game two delayed his opportunity to 2023. He moved from right tackle to left tackle in the middle of that season and retained his left tackle duties upon transferring to Memphis in 2024. Adams was listed at 277 pounds entering 2025 but weighed in at 311 in the Combine, bulking up to prepare for the NFL stage. However, his other Combine measurements left more to be desired, and he looks to reprove himself upon signing with a team.
Sam Howard, ILB, Tulane
6’1”, 212 pounds
Pro Day measurements: 4.82-second 40-yard dash; 28-inch vertical; 9-foot-8-inch broad jump; 4.50-second shuttle; 7.12-second 3-cone drill; 12 bench press reps
Howard was the heart and soul of a Tulane defense which captured the 2025 American Conference title and qualified for the College Football Playoff. He spent his first four seasons at FCS Austin Peay before making the jump to the FBS for the 2024 campaign. The transition was seamless and Howard earned Third Team all-conference honors in 2024 (recovering five fumbles in a single season) before elevating to Second Team in 2025. This past year, he managed 50 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 4.0 sacks for the league’s lone CFP representative.
Shad Banks Jr., ILB, UTSA
5’11”, 230 pounds
Pro Day measurements: 4.62-second 40-yard dash; 32-inch vertical; 9-foot-11-inch broad jump; 4.40-second shuttle; 7.22-second 3-cone drill; 16 bench press reps
Banks suited up for TCU from 2021-24, and his impact was felt from the dawn of his 2021 freshman campaign. In 2022 when the Horned Frogs punched a ticket to the National Championship, Banks was a key member of the linebacker rotation. He started the Big 12 Championship Game and totaled 39 tackles and four tackles for loss for a historic TCU squad. Banks’ role augmented the following year when he produced 63 tackles (third on the team) and a TCU-best 8.5 tackles for loss. However, an early-season injury impeded that progress in 2024. After sitting out the majority of the season, Banks transferred in-state to UTSA, where he earned First Team All-American Conference honors for a season featuring 94 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, three interceptions, and three fumble recoveries.
Anthony Smith, WR, East Carolina
6’2”, 197 pounds
Pro Day measurements: 4.40-second 40-yard dash; 36-inch vertical; 10-foot-3-inch broad jump; 4.28-second shuttle; 6.94-second 3-cone drill; 12 bench press reps
Smith added a massive dose of verticality to East Carolina’s offense in his two seasons donning purple and gold. The 6’2” receiver with 4.40-speed regularly showed it on deep balls, and he averaged 17.8 yards per reception across his 6-year college career (four years at NC State, two at ECU). Smith saved his best for last, finally eclipsing the 1,000-yard threshold in his sixth season. He experienced the perfect ride into the sunset, totaling 156 yards and two touchdowns on four receptions in the 2025 Military Bowl vs. Pitt. Thanks to his MVP performance in a shorthanded offense, ECU recorded a double-digit upset to secure its first 9-win season since 2013.
Derrick Graham, OT, Tulane
6’4”, 309 pounds
Pro Day measurements: 5.22-second 40-yard dash; 24.5-inch vertical; 8-foot-3-inch broad jump; 4.90-second shuttle; 7.91-second 3-cone drilll; 22 bench press reps
Graham ensured Tulane thrived where it mattered the most — the trenches. The Green Wave handled the line of scrimmage better than any team in the American over the past two seasons, and the left tackle’s presence was a major reason why. Graham’s experience outshines most tackles in this draft class, as he started nine games at Troy as a freshman in 2020. He spent four years with the Trojans before following head coach Jon Sumrall to the Big Easy. And he made it look easy upon getting there, notching two All-American Conference selections and paving the way for Tulane’s first-ever bid to the College Football Playoff.
Jhalyn Shuler, ILB, South Florida
6’2”, 231 pounds
Pro Day measurements: 29.5-inch vertical; 9-foot-10-inch broad jump; 4.45-second shuttle; 7.31-second 3-cone drill; 19 bench press reps
Shuler can best be described as a havoc player, considering the value he brings to the turnover battle. He was responsible for six forced fumbles, three interceptions, and two fumble recoveries at South Florida, serving as an omnipresent force on the field. The 6’2” linebacker excelled in run support with 108 tackles and also played a significant hand in the coverage game with eight pass breakups. He added 7.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks for USF’s winningest team since 2017.