5 of the Sooners’ 10 players invited to the NFL Draft Combine are going to benefit more than the others in a huge way
Some of the Sooners players invited to the Combine will get to show their best tangibles.
The Oklahoma Sooners will have ten players at the 2026 NFL Combine. Last season, the Sooners sent three players. The year before, three; the year prior, seven. This year, they have the most players going since 2022, when they sent 11.
For all these players, the combine is where they can go and prove themselves. This is the biggest stage possible for showing what you can do outside of playing an actual game. At the Combine, you get measured in terms of height, weight, arm size, vertical jump, bench press, cone drills, 40-yard dash, and many other things. These will show scouts, coaches, and general managers in attendance what they can do physically and mentally.
There are five of the ten players, specifically, who can use the Combine to raise their 2026 NFL Draft stock more than others.
5 Sooners players at the combine who are perfect for the event
Deion Burks, WR
The Sooners’ star wide receiver didn’t have the 2024 campaign anyone wanted for him, including himself. He dealt with an injury all year, causing him to miss games. On top of that, he was already on maybe the worst offense in Power Four football. In 2025, he ran a better campaign, but he didn’t end up being the WR1 everyone thought he would be. That was Isaiah Sategna, who could be a first-round pick in next year’s draft if he only improves on what he just did this season. Burks needs this opportunity to show what he can really be. He’s an athletic freak who’s extremely fast, has great burst, can jump, and is a lot stronger than he looks. The combine is perfect for Burks.
Kendal Daniels, DB/LB
Daniels is likely going to be a linebacker in the league, but he’s so athletic that he could likely be a big safety. Getting him to the combine to see what he runs at his size, what his vertical is, and what he can do in those cone drills will all help him so much in the draft. We all saw what he did for the Sooners’ defense in 2025. Unfortunately, being on an elite defense like he was, he didn’t have amazing stats. However, he’s as good as it gets for someone who did what he was asked to do every game. Turn the tape on, and it’s enough to see him at the combine, and teams will start to realize what he can really be.
Gracen Halton, DT
Most people who paid attention to the Senior Bowl saw exactly what Halton can do. Some of the knocks on him coming in are that he played on an elite defense and benefited from that, and people think he wouldn’t be good if the players around him aren’t elite. It’s a fair assessment, although it may be incorrect. He proved at the Senior Bowl that he has some juice. Now, teams will want to see some of his measurable numbers, since his first step off the line is elite.
Jaren Kanak, TE
Oklahoma got Kanak off to an elite start. He was one of the best receiving tight ends in football during the first few weeks of the season. However, the offense started to go away from him. When he was in the game, players on the other team knew it wasn’t a run play. However, Kanak has elite speed and athleticism that teams will want to see. That could only help him, considering he doesn’t have any tape at tight end since he just started playing it this last year, and he’s undersized at the position.
Marvin Jones Jr., DE
The opposite side of R Mason Thomas didn’t get much love this year when it came to the statsheet. That’s largely due to everyone else eating, but it doesn’t mean Jones isn’t good. He showed some great stuff at the East-West Shrine Bowl. He’s super athletic, has some long arms, and a great burst. At the combine, he could be a star.
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