Houston Cougars Eye NFL Draft Selections as 2026 Event Begins Thursday

HOUSTON, Texas (TXAN 24) — University of Houston Athletics is aiming to restart its NFL Draft streak as the 2026 NFL Draft begins Thursday night.

The three-day event opens at 7 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network, with additional streaming options available.

Houston enters the draft with several prospects drawing attention, led by tight end Tanner Koziol. The standout pass-catcher led all FBS tight ends with 74 receptions and totaled 727 yards and six touchdowns during the 2025 season.

Cornerback Latrell McCutchin Sr., who earned an NFL Combine invite, is another name to watch after recording 10 pass breakups. Defensive back Wrook Brown also impressed, finishing among the nation’s top tacklers while earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors.

On the defensive line, Carlos Allen Jr. led all FBS interior linemen with 80 tackles and posted 27 run stops, ranking among the nation’s best. Running back Dean Connors rounds out the group after rushing for 977 yards and nine total touchdowns.

Houston has produced 193 all-time NFL Draft selections and has had at least one player drafted in nine of the last 10 years.

Former Cougar Tank Dell made history in 2023 as the first player from the program selected by the Houston Texans, a sign of the program’s continued pipeline to the league.