Playing for your hometown NFL team is a unique opportunity. Sam Hubbard took full advantage for the last seven years as one of the leaders of the Cincinnati Bengals and is now enjoying retirement and marriage. 

Will there be another Cincinnati native to follow his footsteps? The 2025 NFL Draft offers a handful of intriguing candidates. 

Below are notable NFL Draft prospects who either grew up or have lived in Cincinnati, have family from the area, or have family who have previously played for the Bengals. Factoids and background info are courtesy of Dane Brugler's annual draft guide known as "The Beast" and where they rank in A to Z Sports' Top 200 Big Board is also included. 

Ohio State OL Donovan Jackson

Jackson was born and raised outside of Houston, Texas, but the top-ranked guard recruit of 2021 landed on Ohio State because his parents were from the Buckeye State. His mother, Melanie, is a Cincinnati native and met his father, Todd, while attending Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. 

Jackson could've gone anywhere to play college ball and he chose the Buckeye State. Imagine his parents' reaction if he stayed there to start his professional career. 

A to Z Sports Big Board Rank: 37

Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson

Hamilton, Ohio, about 40 miles north of downtown Cincinnati, is where Johnson hails from. He played youth football for the Lakota Tomahawks and eventually shined for Hamilton High School. He had plenty of in-state college offers as a three-star recruit, but decided to head further into the Midwest to play running back for Iowa instead of switching to linebacker for a program like Ohio State. 

Johnson stopped by Paycor Stadium for a local visit, one of a handful of Ohio-based tailbacks to do so this month.

A to Z Sports Big Board Rank: 47

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Texas DT Alfred Collins

The Bengals allowed right tackle Trent Brown to leave in free agency last month, but they can add one of his family members through the draft. Collins, a native of Bastrop, Texas, is Brown's younger cousin. He was just 13 years old when Brown became a seventh-round draft pick. While Brown played an injury-shortened season for Cincinnati last year, Collins started all 16 games during Texas' run to the College Football Playoff Semifinals. 

Collins, a nose tackle by trade, may not be the exact interior defender the Bengals are looking for, but they have a trusty contact they can use to gain more insight on him. 

A to Z Sports Big Board Rank: 96

Cincinnati G Luke Kandra, RB Corey Kiner

It's not a strong class of Bearcats, but Kanda and Kiner took similar paths to get here. Both were born and raised in Cincinnati but left town and the state entirely for college. Kiner found his way back in 2022 after one year at LSU, and Kandra followed Scott Satterfield from Louisville back to the Queen City in 2023. 

If the Bengals were to draft a player from UC, these two would be the most likely picks on Day 3.

Kandra's A to Z Sports Big Board Rank: 185
Kiner's A to Z Sports Big Board Rank: Unranked

Iowa State S Malik Verdon 

Verdon was born in Arizona but moved to Cincinnati right before his teenage years. His family was familiar with the area since his father, Jimmy, spent time with the Bengals from 2007-08. Malik ended up playing for three different high schools in the Cincinnati area including Hamilton where he played with Johnson for his senior season.

Miami nearly landed him as a local recruit before Iowa State swooped in and secured him as a three-star recruit. He's projected to go off the board late in the draft, possibly in the sixth- or seventh-round.

A to Z Sports Big Board Rank: Unranked

Washington State OT Esa Pole 

Pole followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Kalafitoni, by playing for Washington State. Kalafitoni played on the side of the ball at defensive tackle and went undrafted in 2015, but he signed with the Bengals as a college free agent.

The older Pole played a grand total of six preseason snaps that year. Will his younger brother eclipse him? He's projected to be drafted late on Day 3. The Bengals will be looking at offensive tackles throughout the draft.

A to Z Sports Big Board Rank: Unranked

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