Nine football players from Penn State and two athletes from Pitt have been invited to participate in the upcoming 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. The event is scheduled to take place from February 23 to March 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, where 319 prospects will undergo medical tests, interviews, and on-field drills designed to evaluate their skills ahead of the NFL Draft.
Individual Profiles of Pitt Participants
Among the Pitt invitees are running back Desmond Reid and linebacker Kyle Louis. Reid earned All-American honors in 2024 despite being limited by injuries last season; he recorded 278 rushing yards on 60 carries with two touchdowns, complemented by 23 receptions for 317 yards and two additional scores across seven games. Louis, also an All-American in 2024, distinguished himself with 81 tackles, including 8.5 for loss, three sacks, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries, earning All-ACC recognition.
Overview of Penn State’s Invited Prospects
Penn State’s representatives include quarterback Drew Allar; running backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton; tight end Khalil Dinkins; offensive linemen Vega Ioane and Drew Shelton; defensive linemen Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zane Durant; and defensive back Zakee Wheatley. Allar appeared in 45 games over his career with Penn State, amassing over 7,400 passing yards and 61 touchdowns before his 2025 season was cut short by a broken ankle sustained against Northwestern.
Notable Achievements Among Penn State Players
Allen was named first-team All-Big Ten after surpassing the school’s all-time rushing record with 4,180 yards, finishing the season with 1,303 yards and 15 touchdowns. Singleton earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors, compiling 3,461 rushing yards, 45 rushing touchdowns, alongside 102 receptions for 987 yards and nine receiving scores. Tight end Dinkins, a North Allegheny alumnus, received honorable mention recognition with 37 career receptions for 399 yards and seven touchdowns, including 14 catches for 167 yards and two touchdowns last fall.
On the offensive line, Ioane earned first-team All-Big Ten distinction after allowing zero sacks and just two pressures on 310 pass-blocking snaps during the 2025 season. Shelton received honorable mention all-conference honors for the second consecutive year, conceding only one sack in 354 pass-blocking snaps.
Defensive Standouts from Penn State
Dennis-Sutton, recognized as one of the nation’s premier edge rushers, tallied 127 career tackles including 23.5 sacks. Defensive tackle Durant logged 89 tackles and 10 sacks in 54 appearances. Safety Wheatley completed 58 games with 223 tackles and six interceptions.
Additional Invitee from Navy
Navy running back Eli Heidenreich, a graduate of Mt. Lebanon, also earned an invitation to the combine after an impressive season that included selection to the East-West Shrine Game. Heidenreich amassed 475 rushing yards and 925 receiving yards in the most recent campaign.
Upcoming Evaluation at the NFL Combine
The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine will provide crucial opportunities for these players from Penn State, Pitt, and Navy to demonstrate their physical and mental readiness for the professional level. Performances during medical examinations, interviews, and on-field drills are expected to significantly influence team assessments and draft positions. Fans and analysts alike will watch closely as these athletes work to solidify their paths to the NFL.
