BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — There was no disputing that Indiana had a lot of talent on its roster as it roared its way to the school's first national football title this year, and the proof was in the pudding when the NFL released its list of invites to the NLF Draft Combine,

Nine Hoosiers — led by Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza — received invitations to the NFL Combine, which runs  from Feb. 23 through March 2 in Indianapolis.

Here are the nine Hoosiers who got invites, with a quick history of their college careers and their projected draft status.

College career: Mendoza transferred to Indiana from California last year and made the most of his one year at Indiana, leading the Hoosiers to a 16-0 record and the school's first national title while winning the Heisman Trophy, also a first for the Hoosiers' program. Mendoza threw for 3,535 yards with 41 touchdowns and just six interceptions.

Draft prospectus: Mendoza is expected to be taken first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders. No Indiana player has ever been drafted that high.

College career: Sarratt, a Stafford, Va., native, started his career at tiny St. Francis, then spent one year at James Madison before finishing his career with two huge seasons at Indiana. He made 242 catches for 3,678 yards and 44 touchdowns, and was an all-conference selection all four years of his college career. 

Draft prospectus: NFL scouts love his sure hands and route-running, and is a projected second-round pick.

College career: Ponds has been considered one of the best cover corners in the America during his two years at Indiana, and was an All-American choice in both season. He's a bit undersized at 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds, but the junior from Miami, Fla., has also shut down many taller receivers through his career. He had seven career interceptions.

Draft prospectus: His cover skills are elite, but he's also a reliable tackler in space. He grades out well in run defense and tackling as well  who comes downhill with bad intentions against the run. His run defense and tackling grades both land in elite territory, which is unusual for a corner his size. He could be a late-first, early second-round choice.

College career: Omar Cooper Jr. was a Tom Allen-era holdover at Indiana and got dramatically better every year. He redshirted in 2022, had 18 catches the following year, 28 in 2024 and led the Hoosiers with 69 catches for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns during this championship season. He also had the catch of the year in the back of the end zone at Penn State to save Indiana's perfect season with a last-minute touchdown catch.

Draft prospectus: Scouts like his route-running and ability to stretch the field. He had seven games this year with a catch of at least 38 yards or more. He's a like second-day pick in the second or third round. 

College career: Aiden Fisher was another player who followed Curt Cignetti from James Madison to Indiana, and he was an outstanding leader on defense from the day he arrived on campus. He was a first-team All-American both seasons, and was Indiana's first-ever All-American linebacker, and the first repeat All-American since Dan Feeney in 2015-16.

Draft prospectus: He's mentally sharp and a sure tackler, but some NFL questions question his speed and his ability to cover speedy backs and tight ends. He's a likely third-day pick (rounds four through seven), but his special teams skills might make a team jump on him early.

College career: Pat Coogan played four years at Notre Dame before transferring to Indiana for his final season. The dude is a winner. He played for a national title with the Fighting Irish in 2024 — and beat Indiana in the first round — and then started all 16 wins for the Hoosiers in 2025. He anchored an offensive line that was considered one of the best in the league. Indiana was No. 4 in the country in rushing yards (3,406) and Coogan and Co. did a great job of protecting Mendoza all season.

Draft prospectus: NFL scouts love that he's played so much football and has gotten better every year. He was one of the best centers in the country at Indiana, and played some guard at Notre Dame as well. He's a third-day prospect, but will likely have a long NFL career.

College career: Roman Hemby spent most of his career at Maryland, but came to Indiana for his redshirt-senior season. All he did was rush for 1,120 yards and seven touchdowns as the Hoosiers' lead back. 

Draft prospectus: NFL scouts loves that he runs hard and has xcellent receiving skills out of the backfield. He was able to pile up yards after contact all year, and has good vision in finding holes. He's a third-day pick, but will find a home in the NFL for sure. Needs to continue to work on pass protection.

College career: Riley Nowakowski was a seldom-used tight end at Wisconsin, but he transferred to Indiana in 2025 and emerged into a star. He had 32 catches for 387 yards and two touchdowns for the Hoosiers, and also ran the ball twice in goal-line situations, scoring both times, including in the national championship game against Miami. He's a dynamic blocker, and has impressed everyone with his athleticism all year. 

Draft prospectus: He's a third-day and where he goes might depend a lot on fit. The NFL teams that still use H-backs will like him a lot. But there's no question he turned himself into an NFL player with Indiana in 2025. That certainly wasn't the case before he arrived on campus a year ago. 

College career: Louis Moore played two years at Indiana before transferring to Ole Miss in 2024 after Indiana's coaching change. He came back for the 2025 season and was one of the best safeties in the game, earning All-American honors. He led the Hoosiers with six interceptions in 2025, and had nine for his career. He also had 90 tackles, third-best on the Hoosiers.

Draft prospectus: Scouts love his instincts, range and rotation versatility, and he's sure-tackler. He's better in zone defenses than man-to-man, but he reads quarterbacks well and reacts quickly. He's a third-day pick, but some NFL team will get a good one. He'll excel on special teams as well

Only seven schools had more invitees than Indiana. Texas A&M (13) led the way and Alabama — which lost 38-3 to Indiana in the College Football Playoff at the Rose Bowl — was next with 12.

LSU and Ohio State — which lost to Indiana 13-10 in the Big Ten Championship Game — had 11 invitees each and Georgia, Oklahoma and Miami — losers to Indiana in the national title game — had 10.

Aside from Indiana, five other schools had nine players invited, including Clemson, Florida, Iowa, Oregon and Penn State.

Indiana had two surprise omissions as well, with defensive lineman Mikail Kamara and running back Kaelon Black failing to make the cut. Both have had a great two-year run at Indiana after coming to Bloomington from James Madison with Curt Cignetti.

Kamara finished his career as an NCAA leader in both sacks and tackles for loss, some some NFL services have him as a mid-round pick.  Black rushed for 1,040 yards this year while sharing snaps at running back Roman Hemby, who had 1,120 yards rushing.