The road to the NFL Draft officially runs through the state of Alabama once again. The NFL released its full list of 319 invites for the 2026 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, and the numbers tell a clear story of two programs trending upward in different ways.
Alabama: The Factory Churns On
Despite the coaching transition from Saban to DeBoer, the talent pipeline in Tuscaloosa remains unmatched. Alabama secured 12 invites, the second-most of any school in the country (trailing only Texas A&M's 13).
Headlining the group is quarterback Ty Simpson, whose decision to declare early was validated by a Combine invite. Joining him are offensive pillars like OT Kadyn Proctor, C Parker Brailsford, and G Jaeden Roberts—a testament to the "Great Wall" built over the last few seasons. On defense, LB Deontae Lawson and CB Domani Jackson will look to cement their status as Day 1 or Day 2 picks.
Auburn: Trench Talent Returns
For Auburn, the narrative is about resurgence. The Tigers sent 6 players to Indianapolis, their highest total since the 2020 draft cycle. What stands out is where that talent is coming from: the trenches.
Defensive lineman Keldric Faulk leads a group that includes DL Keyron Crawford and OL Connor Lew. This confirms that Alex Golesh's emphasis on rebuilding the lines of scrimmage is paying dividends in NFL development. After years of thin draft classes, Auburn is once again producing Sunday talent.
Iron Bowl Perspective: While Alabama still holds the volume advantage (12 vs. 6), Auburn's presence is no longer negligible. The sheer number of linemen from both schools receiving invites (8 total OL/DL between them) underscores why the Iron Bowl remains the most physical game in college football.