State-by-state look at high schools of 2026 NFL Draft first-round selections

After the Las Vegas Raiders selected Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall Thursday night, the national championship-winning quarterback became the first player from Florida taken with the top pick in 61 years. 

Mendoza, a former two-star recruit, graduated from Columbus (Miami) in 2022 and joined Tucker Frederickson as the only other player from Florida to be selected first overall. He also joins Eric Fisher and Alex Smith as the only other two-star recruits to be selected No. 1. 

Florida finished with the most first-round selections with five. 

Carnell Tate, Francis Mauigoa, Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor joined Mendoza as Sunshine State products to hear their name called on the opening night of the 2026 NFL Draft. 

IMG Academy (Bradenton) extended its streak of having at least one player selected in the first round to seven years in a row with Tate and Mauigoa. The Ascenders have had 10 players taken in the first round since 2020 and 27 players drafted overall since 2018. 

The Florida football factory was the only school to have multiple players selected Thursday. 

California finished with the second-most players drafted with four. The New York Jets selected David Bailey with the No. 2 pick as he became the fifth player from Mater Dei (Santa Ana) selected since 2016.

Ohio was the only other state that had at least three players selected in the first round. 

Arvell Reese became the fifth player from Glenville (Cleveland) to be drafted since 2016 after the New York Giants took him at No. 5. Two picks later, the Washington Commanders selected Sonny Styles. It was the third consecutive draft a player was taken from Pickerington Central (Pickerington). 

In total, 19 different states had at least one player selected. Alabama — 2

Keldric Faulk, Highland Home

Peter Woods, Thompson (Alabaster)

Caleb Lomu, Highland (Gilbert)

David Bailey, Mater Dei (Santa Ana)

Max Iheanachor, King/Drew (Los Angeles)

Chris Johnson, Roosevelt (Eastvale)

Makai Lemon, Los Alamitos

Rueben Bain Jr., Central (Miami)

Francis Mauigoa, IMG Academy (Bradenton)

Fernando Mendoza, Columbus (Miami)

Akheem Mesidor, Clearwater Academy International (Clearwater)

Carnell Tate, IMG Academy

Caleb Downs, Mill Creek (Hoschton)

Keylan Rutledge, Franklin County (Carnesville)

Kenyon Sadiq, Skyline (Idaho Falls)

Omar Cooper Jr., Lawrence North (Indianapolis)

Dillon Thieneman, Westfield

Kadyn Proctor, Southeast Polk (Pleasant Hill)

Malachi Lawrence, DuPont Manual (Louisville)

Mansoor Delane, Archbishop Spalding (Severn)

Caleb Banks, Southfield Arts & Tech (Southfield)

Jeremiyah Love, Christian Brothers (St. Louis)

K.C. Concepcion, Chambers (Charlotte)

Blake Miller, Strongsville

Arvell Reese, Glenville (Cleveland)

Sonny Styles, Pickerington Central (Pickerington)

Monroe Freeling, Oceanside Collegiate Academy (Mt. Pleasant)

Ty Simpson, Westview (Martin)

Jadarian Price, Denison

Jordyn Tyson, Allen

Spencer Fano, Timpview (Provo)

Olaivavega Ioane, Graham-Kapowsin (Graham)