2026 NFL Draft Final Recap: 13 Red River Alumni Selected
The 2026 NFL Draft has officially concluded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the results provide a strong look at the current talent pipelines of both the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners. Across the three-day event from April 23-25, a combined 13 players from the two Red River Rivalry programs heard their names called by NFL franchises.
Texas Longhorns: Defensive Playmakers Find NFL Homes
The Longhorns had six players selected, with a particularly heavy emphasis on defensive talent. The Miami Dolphins, in particular, utilized multiple picks to secure experienced Texas defenders.
- Anthony Hill Jr. (LB): Selected in the 2nd Round (60th overall) by the Tennessee Titans. Hill’s athleticism and elite tackling ability made him the highest-drafted Longhorn of the 2026 class.
- Malik Muhammad (DB): Selected in the 4th Round (124th overall) by the Chicago Bears.
- Trey Moore (LB): Selected in the 4th Round (130th overall) by the Miami Dolphins.
- Michael Taaffe (DB): Selected in the 5th Round (158th overall) by the Miami Dolphins.
- DJ Campbell (OL): Selected in the 6th Round (200th overall) by the Miami Dolphins.
- Jack Endries (TE): Selected in the 7th Round (221st overall) by the Cincinnati Bengals.
The selections mark another successful draft class for Texas, highlighting the program’s developmental consistency under head coach Steve Sarkisian.
Oklahoma Sooners: Seven Players Head to the League
Contrary to early mock draft projections that severely underestimated the Sooners’ class, Oklahoma had a robust showing with seven players selected. The defensive side of the ball was also a focal point for OU alumni.
- R Mason Thomas (EDGE): Selected in the 2nd Round (40th overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs. Thomas’s explosiveness off the edge earned him a premium selection by the defending AFC heavyweights.
- Febechi Nwaiwu (IOL): Selected in the 4th Round (106th overall) by the Houston Texans.
- Gracen Halton (DL): Selected in the 4th Round (107th overall) by the San Francisco 49ers.
- Kendal Daniels (LB): Selected in the 4th Round (134th overall) by the Atlanta Falcons.
- Robert Spears-Jennings (S): Selected in the 7th Round (224th overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Jaren Kanak (TE): Selected in the 7th Round (225th overall) by the Tennessee Titans.
- Deion Burks (WR): Selected in the 7th Round (254th overall) by the Indianapolis Colts.
These results underscore that both programs are consistently producing NFL-caliber talent as they solidify their footing in the highly competitive SEC environment. With a wealth of returning talent for both squads, the 2027 draft class is already shaping up to be just as impressive.
