The 2026 NFL Draft is one day away, and several players from Mississippi’s universities are hoping to hear their names called.
Taking place around Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium, the home of the Steelers, the NFL Draft will kick off Thursday at 7 p.m. CT with round one. Rounds two and three will take place Friday, and rounds four through seven will happen Saturday.
Last year, Ole Miss led the state with a program-best eight players selected, highlighted by quarterback Jaxson Dart and defensive tackle Walter Nolen being picked in the first round. The Rebels were the only Mississippi program to produce draft picks in 2025, though other schools had players ink free agent deals.
Ole Miss is likely to have the most players taken in this year’s draft, though Mississippi State, Southern Miss, and Jackson State are confident that they have developed viable candidates for the next level.
Below is a list of players from Mississippi schools who have a shot at walking the main stage during the draft:
Ole Miss WR De’Zhaun Stribling
Stribling is expected to be the first Mississippi-affiliated player drafted after capping a five-year collegiate career with one season in Oxford — a historic one at that. The Hawaii native proved to be solid for the Rebels throughout the 2025-26 campaign and was especially effective down the stretch, with big moments in the Egg Bowl and the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. In total, Stribling logged 811 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 55 receptions this past season.
He showed out in the 2026 NFL Draft Combine, logging an eye-popping 4.36 40-yard dash in Indianapolis. As a bigger receiver with real speed, Stribling believes he has the perfect makeup to be a viable addition to an NFL franchise’s wide receiver corps.
Projection: late second round or third round
Mississippi State WR Brenen Thompson
Thompson is projected to get picked up early on day three, though he has a chance to walk the stage late in the second day of the draft. The speedy wideout was a staple for Mississippi State in his one season in Starkville and was widely considered one of the fastest players in the sport. The Texas native lit up the stat sheet in Jeff Lebby’s offense, notching a program-best 1,054 yards and six touchdowns on 57 receptions, averaging a whopping 18.5 yards per catch.
As Mississippi State’s lone participant in the NFL Draft Combine, Thompson’s head-turning 4.26 40-yard dash was the best at the event and one of the top times in history. His performance caught the attention of all NFL franchises.
Projection: Fourth round
Ole Miss DT Zxavian Harris
Harris, a native of Canton, is expected to be a day-three selection in the draft. The senior concluded a four-year stint with the Rebels with a bang, as the team was one play away from a national championship appearance. In his final campaign, the big defensive tackle amassed 58 total tackles, 27 of which were solo, three pass deflections, three sacks, and an interception.
Projection: Fourth round
Ole Miss OT Diego Pounds
Pounds is expected to walk the main stage sometime during day-three proceedings. As the anchor of a strong offensive line, Pounds finished a two-year run at Ole Miss as a reliable asset at left tackle. From protecting now-New York Giants starting quarterback Jaxson Dart to keeping opposing defenders away from Austin Simmons and Trinidad Chambliss, the North Carolina native proved to be one of the nation’s most effective players at his position in minimizing sacks and tackles for loss.
Projection: Fifth round
Ole Miss TE Dae’Quan Wright
Wright is projected to get picked up later in the third day of the draft after a productive 2025-26 campaign with the Rebels. In his senior season, the virtually unguardable tight end was a persistent nightmare for opposing linebackers and secondaries. In total, the Georgia native tallied 635 yards and five touchdowns on 39 receptions in the historic campaign.
Projection: Sixth round
Ole Miss S Wydett Williams Jr.
Williams is projected to be a late-day-three pick. He began his college career at Division II Delta State before transferring to Louisiana-Monroe and later landing at Ole Miss, where he was a star in Pete Golding’s defense. Williams, in his one season with the Rebels, logged 73 total tackles, 42 of which were solo, three interceptions, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
Projection: Sixth or seventh round
Ole Miss WR Harrison Wallace III
Wallace is projected to be a late-day-three draftee. The Penn State transfer panned out quite well for Ole Miss, as Wallace made an immediate impact on the field. The Alabama native was a reliable target for both Simmons and Chambliss, recording 934 yards and four touchdowns on 61 receptions.
Projection: Seventh round
Mississippi State TE Seydou Traore
Traore, if drafted, is likely to hear his name called in the final round, though he has caught the eye of some franchises looking for a tight end. A native of England, Traore began his American football playing days at Arkansas State before transferring to compete for Jeff Lebby’s Bulldogs. In his senior season, he tallied 35 receptions for 369 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 10.5 yards per snag.
Projection: Seventh round or undrafted
Southern Miss DB Josh Moten
Moten is likely destined for the final round of the draft, if selected. A one-year player for Southern Miss during the lone season of the Charles Huff era, Moten proved to be one of the top defensive backs in the Sun Belt. This past year, he recorded 60 tackles, 38 of which were solo, five interceptions, and 10 pass deflections. He helped lead Southern Miss to its first bowl game after a two-season hiatus.
Projection: Seventh round or undrafted
Jackson State EDGE Quincy Ivory
Ivory will likely be a last-round draftee if his name is called. The Florida transfer proved why he was on an SEC roster when competing for T.C. Taylor’s Tigers this past season. Ivory had 71 tackles, 33 of which were solo, a whopping six sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and an interception. He helped lead Jackson State to the SWAC Championship, where the Tigers nearly earned the conference crown for the second straight year.
Projection: Seventh round or undrafted
How to watch the NFL Draft
The NFL Draft will air on ABC, ESPN, and the NFL Network. Round one begins on Thursday at 7 p.m. CT. Round two begins on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. Round three begins on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT.
