IMG Academy Leads 2026 NFL Draft With Five Former Players Selected

No program had a bigger presence in the 2026 NFL Draft than IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

First-round selections Carnell Tate (No. 4, Tennessee Titans) and Francis Mauigoa (No. 10, New York Giants) headlined a group of five former Ascenders who heard their names called this weekend. It marked the third straight year that two IMG Academy alumni were selected in the first round.

IMG has now produced at least one first-round pick every year since 2020, an NFL Draft record.

IMG Academy first-round picks

• 2026 — No. 4 Carnell Tate, WR (Tennessee Titans); No. 10 Francis Mauigoa, OT (New York Giants)
• 2025 — No. 12 Tyler Booker, G (Dallas Cowboys); No. 31 Jihaad Campbell, LB (Philadelphia Eagles)
• 2024 — No. 7 JC Latham, OT (Tennessee Titans); No. 10 J.J. McCarthy, QB (Minnesota Vikings)
• 2023 — No. 30 Nolan Smith, LB (Philadelphia Eagles)
• 2022 — No. 7 Evan Neal, OT (New York Giants)
• 2021 — No. 26 Greg Newsome II, CB (Cleveland Browns)
• 2020 — No. 24 Cesar Ruiz, C (New Orleans Saints)

The other three IMG Academy alumni selected this weekend in Pittsburgh were cornerback Daylen Everette, who went No. 85 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers; defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart, selected No. 155 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; and running back Kaytron Allen, taken No. 187 by the Washington Commanders.

“Year after year, the NFL Draft has become a stage where our football program continues to make history, with our alumni earning opportunities at the highest level of the game,” said Kyle Brey, IMG Academy’s director of football. “Another year with multiple first-round selections and the highest draft pick in IMG Academy football history continues to validate the standard of development within our program. This reflects the hard work of our student-athletes and the intentional support our staff provides to help them win their future.”

Since 2018, IMG Academy has had 29 former players selected in the NFL Draft, underscoring the program’s sustained success in developing talent at the highest level.