Players Mentioned
Toledo will have three players at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, more than the rest of the 12 MAC schools combined.
Three Rockets Invited to NFL Scouting Combine, Most of Any Group of Six School
2/11/2026 12:47:00 PM | Football
Defensive backs Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Avery Smith and Andre Fuller will participate in combine in Indianapolis
TOLEDO, Ohio - Former Toledo defensive backs Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Avery Smith and Andre Fuller have all accepted invitations to participate in the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine that will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. Defensive backs will participate in media interviews on Thursday, Feb. 26 and on-field workouts on Friday, Feb. 27.
Toledo's three invitees is the most of any Group of Six school and more than the other 12 Mid-American schools combined (2). It is also tied for the most Rockets ever selected to participate in the NFL's annual combine. In 2017, Kareem Hunt, Treyvon Hester and Michael Roberts participated in the combine. Toledo had two invitees last year, defensive lineman Darius Alexander and safety Maxen Hook.
McNeil-Warren, a safety, was named to three of the five major All-America teams in 2025. He was named Second Team All-America by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Sporting News, and third team by the Associated Press. He is just the fourth Rocket in the program's 109-year history to be named to at least three major All-America teams, and just the second in the past 54 years. The other three were cornerback Quinyon Mitchell (2023), defensive lineman Mel Long (1970 and 1971) and cornerback Curtis Johnson (1969).
McNeil-Warren was also named the "Group of 6" Defensive Player of the Year by Pro Football Focus as well as to the PFF All-America Team.
A 2025 First-Team All-MAC selection, McNeil-Warren had 77 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and five pass breakups in 2025. He was among national leaders in forced fumbles (3) and in fumbles recovered (2).
Smith is a two-time Second-Team All-MAC selection with 100 tackles, three interceptions and 25 pass breakups over the past two seasons. He was second in the MAC in passes defended in 2024 (16) and third last season (12). A cornerback, Smith saw his draft stock rise with an impressive performance at the East-West Shrine Bowl on Jan. 27.
Fuller, a cornerback, was a First-Team All-MAC honoree in 2025, totaling 49 tackles, one interception and 11 breakups. Fuller, who missed the 2024 season due to injury, began his career at Arkansas-Pine Bluff before joining the Rockets in 2022. He also was a standout at the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl.
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McNeil-Warren, Smith and Fuller are hoping to become the latest Rockets to be selected in the NFL Draft (April 23-25). A total of 11 Rockets have been drafted since 2017, including cornerback Quinyon Mitchell in 2024, who was runner-up as the league's Defensive Rookie of the Year for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in 2024 and an NFL All-Pro this past season. Alexander was chosen as the first pick in the third round of the 2025 draft by the NY Giants.
Toledo's three invitees is the most of any Group of Six school and more than the other 12 Mid-American schools combined (2). It is also tied for the most Rockets ever selected to participate in the NFL's annual combine. In 2017, Kareem Hunt, Treyvon Hester and Michael Roberts participated in the combine. Toledo had two invitees last year, defensive lineman Darius Alexander and safety Maxen Hook.
McNeil-Warren, a safety, was named to three of the five major All-America teams in 2025. He was named Second Team All-America by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Sporting News, and third team by the Associated Press. He is just the fourth Rocket in the program's 109-year history to be named to at least three major All-America teams, and just the second in the past 54 years. The other three were cornerback Quinyon Mitchell (2023), defensive lineman Mel Long (1970 and 1971) and cornerback Curtis Johnson (1969).
McNeil-Warren was also named the "Group of 6" Defensive Player of the Year by Pro Football Focus as well as to the PFF All-America Team.
A 2025 First-Team All-MAC selection, McNeil-Warren had 77 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and five pass breakups in 2025. He was among national leaders in forced fumbles (3) and in fumbles recovered (2).
Smith is a two-time Second-Team All-MAC selection with 100 tackles, three interceptions and 25 pass breakups over the past two seasons. He was second in the MAC in passes defended in 2024 (16) and third last season (12). A cornerback, Smith saw his draft stock rise with an impressive performance at the East-West Shrine Bowl on Jan. 27.
Fuller, a cornerback, was a First-Team All-MAC honoree in 2025, totaling 49 tackles, one interception and 11 breakups. Fuller, who missed the 2024 season due to injury, began his career at Arkansas-Pine Bluff before joining the Rockets in 2022. He also was a standout at the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl.
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McNeil-Warren, Smith and Fuller are hoping to become the latest Rockets to be selected in the NFL Draft (April 23-25). A total of 11 Rockets have been drafted since 2017, including cornerback Quinyon Mitchell in 2024, who was runner-up as the league's Defensive Rookie of the Year for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in 2024 and an NFL All-Pro this past season. Alexander was chosen as the first pick in the third round of the 2025 draft by the NY Giants.
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