NFL Draft Notebook: Indiana's Roman Hemby emerging as a late-round gem in 2026 draft

The college football season is officially wrapped up, and now these prospects shift into full NFL mode. NFL Draft Notebook is diving into that push, starting with a possible value pick at running back, a small school wideout who keeps producing, and a few other names to track as draft season kicks in.

Could Roman Hemby be this year’s Kyle Monangai

One of the best selections of the 2025 NFL Draft was the Chicago Bears picking Kyle Monangai with the 233rd overall pick. Monangai has delivered so far, rushing for 591 yards this season while averaging an impressive 4.9 yards per carry. The question now is who could be this year’s value pick at running back.

The answer might be another Big Ten back, Indiana’s Roman Hemby. Hemby is a multi-dimensional runner who contributes in both the run and pass game. This season he is averaging 5.3 yards per carry with 886 rushing yards. He combines speed and power effectively. While he doesn’t have elite homerun ability, his quickness is underrated, which has helped him break off 11 runs of at least 15 yards. On the power side, his contact balance has allowed him to force 32 missed tackles according to Pro Football Focus.

Hemby may be even more impressive as a receiver out of the backfield. In 2024, he caught 40 passes for 273 yards, and this season he has caught 13 of the 14 passes thrown his way. The area he still needs work on is pass blocking, which can be a liability at times.

As for his 2026 NFL Draft projection, NFL Mock Draft Database consensus draft grade currently ranks Hemby as the 442nd best player in the class, which would make him an undrafted free agent. While I’m higher on him, it’s hard to see him going much higher than where Monangai went in 2025. That said, if he lands with a team like the San Francisco 49ers or Kansas City Chiefs, who feature running backs heavily in the passing game, he could easily turn into a great value pick.

Small school wide receiver to watch

One of the more intriguing small school wide receivers in the 2026 NFL Draft is Abilene Christian’s Javon Gipson. What makes him stand out is his combination of size, production, and athletic ability.

This season, Gipson has caught 58 passes for 950 yards and six touchdowns, and with ACU still alive in the playoffs, those numbers are likely to climb. He has topped 100 yards in each of his last three games and over 160 yards in the past two. He also came off the best game of his career in ACU’s first-round playoff win against Lamar, catching nine passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns.

Gipson’s production is impressive, but his physical traits make him a legitimate NFL prospect as well. He has ideal size at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, which he uses to be a red zone threat. He also shows good agility for a bigger receiver, allowing him to make tough catches in traffic. On top of that, his hands are reliable, dropping just three passes all season.

This week will be another chance for Gipson to shine as ACU faces Stephen F. Austin in the second round of the playoffs. If he continues to impress and carries that performance into the months leading up to the NFL Draft, expect a team to sign him as an undrafted free agent shortly after the 2026 Draft.

Senior Bowl quarterback to watch

Every year there is at least one quarterback who boosts his stock at the Senior Bowl. Last year it was Tyler Shough, who put together a strong final season and ended up going 40th overall. This year’s candidate to make that kind of jump is Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson.

Going into the 2025 season I called Robertson the most underrated quarterback in college football, and that still holds true. He has several traits that should push NFL teams to consider him as a mid-round pick, even though CBS ranks him as the 33rd best quarterback in the country and NFL Mock Draft Database has him at 232nd overall.

One of his standout traits is his arm strength. This season he tied for the FBS lead with 27 big-time throws according to Pro Football Focus, and in 2024 he recorded 52 passes of 20 yards or more. He has consistently shown he has the arm strength and accuracy to hit the deep ball, and this should be one of the first things that jumps out to scouts at the Senior Bowl. He also brings great size at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, and for a bigger quarterback he moves well enough to escape trouble and extend plays.

"Sawyer Robertson is the real deal. He's got it all."

AFC scout to ESPN

Robertson still has areas he needs to clean up. The first is ball security. He threw 12 interceptions this season and forced too many passes into coverage. His footwork also needs work, as inconsistent mechanics can lead to inaccurate throws.

Even with those issues, his raw tools are worth betting on. If he puts together a strong week in Mobile, he could be the next quarterback who sees his stock climb fast.

Trevor Goosby could sneak into round one

An offensive tackle who could sneak into the late part of the first round is Texas’s Trevor Goosby. Goosby, who is a starter for the first time this season, has only given up three sacks on the year, including shutting out SEC sack leader Cashius Howell in Texas’s big win over Texas A&M last week. On top of his impressive pass blocking, he also shows the power to open lanes in the running game and holds a PFF run blocking grade of 82.4.

One team that could make sense for him is the Rams, whose own first round pick and Atlanta’s pick are both at the end of the first round.

Where will Trinidad Chambliss play

Trinidad Chambliss is one of the more intriguing quarterbacks heading into the offseason. He has three real paths in front of him. He can enter the 2026 NFL Draft, where he projects as a day three selection. He can pursue a waiver and return to college. If he goes back, he will have to choose between following Lane Kiffin to LSU, which is his best football fit, or returning to Ole Miss for one more year.