The national championship is in the books. Super Bowl LX is cemented in history. Now is the time for college football and the NFL to merge over the next few months as draft preparation is in full swing. Earlier this week, the NFL released a list of 319 draft prospects invited to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
The Combine remains at its usual home of Indianapolis and will take place from February 23 to March 2, where these 319 prospects will show off their speed, strength, athleticism and more in front of a horde of scouts. The American Conference earned four representatives at the Combine with three of its 14 member institutions represented. Here are the American prospects to watch in Indianapolis later this month:
Chris Adams, occupational therapist, Memphis
Adams spent three years as a full-time starter at the college level, including two at Memphis. The 6’5″, 277-pound tackle started at Old Dominion in 2021 and became a starter in 2022; however, a season-ending injury struck in the second game, limiting his availability for the remainder of that campaign. But Adams recovered exceptionally, playing every offensive snap for Old Dominion in 2023 with four starts at right tackle before an in-season transition to left tackle. He retained the left tackle role. starter after his trade to Memphis, paving the way for a 1,362-yard rusher in Mario Anderson during an 11-2 season in 2024 where the Tigers fielded the nation’s No. 12 offense Adams received an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl in January as the first step in an offseason to prove himself.
Travis Burke, OT, Memphis
Burke manned the other side of Memphis’ offensive line as a right tackle in 2025, starting 11 games for the bowl-bound Tigers. His university career was eventful, including three stops. The 6’9″, 315 pound tackle spent his first two seasons at FCS Gardner-Webb (2021-22) before transferring to FIU. Burke continued his progression for two years at FIU, earning 22 starts in 22 games played for the Panthers. Including his one-year stint in Memphis, the Hollywood, Fla. native concluded his college career with 33 FBS starts, earning many of experience in different systems He also received an East-West Bowl invitation in January before earning his bid to the NFL Combine.
Eli Heidenreich, RB/WR, Navy
Heidenreich is one of the most unique players to ever put on a Navy uniform. Although his position is generally considered to be running back, he is essentially a Swiss army knife suitable for any role. Heidenreich left the Midshipmen as the program’s all-time leading receiver — from a career standpoint (1,994 yards) and from a season standpoint (941 yards in 2025). He once recorded 100 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards in the same game, demonstrating his versatility in Navy’s option-based offense, and he also recorded a Navy record 243 receiving yards in a 2025 contest against Air Force. He was an established deep threat, but also an explosive runner who recorded 1,157 rushing yards with a 6.8 average over three seasons. The Pittsburgh native, who recorded over 20 mph on the GPS tracker, played in the East-West Shrine Bowl and enters the Combine as an intriguing offensive prospect who can thrive in a variety of roles.
Robert Henry Jr., RB, UTSA
Henry quickly made a name for himself during the 2025 season, throwing for over 140 yards and at least one touchdown in each of his first four games. The 5’9″, 205-pound Roadrunner running back became the ultimate breakaway runner, recording five 74-plus yard touchdowns in those four contests alone. He ended up posting 1,045 yards this season for the third-best total in UTSA history, and he left San Antonio as the Roadrunners’ third all-time leading rusher. Henry also shined in 2023 with 588 yards and in 2024 with 706 yards, contributing to a total of 27 rushing touchdowns in three years with the program. The talented running back was invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl and becomes the seventh Roadrunner to earn a trip to the NFL Combine.
NFL Combine Snobs
One of the more surprising omissions from the Conference USA Combine invite list was Navy defensive tackle Landon Robinson. Robinson won the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year award, earned first-team AP All-American honors and impressed scouts at the East-West Shrine Bowl with his dominance in practice. Robinson not receiving an invitation was not only one of the biggest surprises from a Conference USA perspective, but also from a national perspective.
Advertisement
Other notable snubs included East Carolina wide receiver Anthony Smith, Tulsa running back Dominic Richardson and UTSA inside linebacker Shad Banks Jr. – all of whom played in the East-West Shrine Bowl.
