Players Mentioned
Andre Fuller ran a 4.49 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Friday.
Photo by: Bree Bee
Three Rockets Make Their Run at NFL Combine
2/27/2026 8:57:00 PM | Football
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Avery Smith and Andre Fuller all make impressive showings at annual NFL showcase
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Three former University of Toledo defensive backs made a big impact at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Friday, putting up impressive numbers in a number of categories. The Combine was televised live on NFL Network.
Cornerback Andre Fuller posted the fastest time of the trio in the 40-yard dash, clocking in at 4.49 in his second attempt. Safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren ran a 4.52 time in his second attempt, while cornerback Avery Smith finished with a 4.54 in his first try. Fuller had the fastest 10-yard split (1.55), followed by McNeil-Warren (1.58) and Smith (1.61).
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said he was impressed with McNeil-Warren's effort and is very high on his prospects of becoming an NFL star.
"He is really fluid and bouncy as an athlete when you're watching him on the field," said Jeremiah, who projects McNeil-Warren as a first-round draft pick, a consensus opinion among draft experts. "And he will hit you. He's had some big hits. He has a big presence on the middle of the field and has great range."
"He has an uncanny ability to knock the football out," added reporter Stacey Dales.
In other measurables at today's workout, Smith had a 38-5 vertical jump, 10-5 broad jump, and put up a 7.03 time in the 3-cone drill and 4.46 in the shuttle. Fuller went 35-0 in the vertical, 10-9 in the broad jump, and 4.28 in the shuttle. McNeil-Warren came up with a 35.5 vertical and a 10-2 broad jump.
Toledo's three invitees to the 2026 Combine is the most of any Group of Six school, more than the other 12 Mid-American schools combined (2) and more than 29 Power-4 schools. 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. The Rockets' total of five invitees over the past two years is the most of any G-6 school and more than 16 P-4 schools.
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), who became a first-round pick for the 2024 Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles and the runner-up for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, 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 was also a standout at the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl.
Â
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 Mitchell and Darius Alexander, who was chosen as the first pick in the third round of the 2025 draft by the New York Giants.
Â
Â
Â
Cornerback Andre Fuller posted the fastest time of the trio in the 40-yard dash, clocking in at 4.49 in his second attempt. Safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren ran a 4.52 time in his second attempt, while cornerback Avery Smith finished with a 4.54 in his first try. Fuller had the fastest 10-yard split (1.55), followed by McNeil-Warren (1.58) and Smith (1.61).
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said he was impressed with McNeil-Warren's effort and is very high on his prospects of becoming an NFL star.
"He is really fluid and bouncy as an athlete when you're watching him on the field," said Jeremiah, who projects McNeil-Warren as a first-round draft pick, a consensus opinion among draft experts. "And he will hit you. He's had some big hits. He has a big presence on the middle of the field and has great range."
"He has an uncanny ability to knock the football out," added reporter Stacey Dales.
In other measurables at today's workout, Smith had a 38-5 vertical jump, 10-5 broad jump, and put up a 7.03 time in the 3-cone drill and 4.46 in the shuttle. Fuller went 35-0 in the vertical, 10-9 in the broad jump, and 4.28 in the shuttle. McNeil-Warren came up with a 35.5 vertical and a 10-2 broad jump.
Toledo's three invitees to the 2026 Combine is the most of any Group of Six school, more than the other 12 Mid-American schools combined (2) and more than 29 Power-4 schools. 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. The Rockets' total of five invitees over the past two years is the most of any G-6 school and more than 16 P-4 schools.
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), who became a first-round pick for the 2024 Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles and the runner-up for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, 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 was also a standout at the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl.
Â
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 Mitchell and Darius Alexander, who was chosen as the first pick in the third round of the 2025 draft by the New York Giants.
Â
Â
Â
Toledo Football - National Signing Day Press Conference
Wednesday, February 04
Toledo Football - Bacon Raton Bowl of Beans - Post Game Press Conference - 12/23/2025
Wednesday, December 24
Toledo Football - Boca Raton Bowl of Beans - Post Game Press Conference - 12/23/2025
Wednesday, December 24
Toledo Football - Bowl Game Head Coaches Press Conference - 12/19/2025
Saturday, December 20
