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This was the first year since 2022 where a St. Louis high school football player was taken in the first round.

Jeremiyah Love, a CBC phenom before he became a Notre Dame star, was the No. 3 pick in the draft, making him the highest drafted player since Ezekiel Elliott (No. 4, John Burroughs).

Since 2009, five guys from St. Louis were taken in the first round.

• 2026: Jeremiyah Love (CBC): No. 3 overall, Arizona Cardinals
• 2022: Jameson Williams (Cardinal Ritter): No. 12 overall, Detroit Lions
• 2016: Ezekiel Elliott (John Burroughs): No. 4 overall, Dallas Cowboys
• 2013: Sheldon Richardson (Gateway Tech): No. 13 overall, New York Jets
• 2009: Jeremy Maclin (Kirkwood): No. 19 overall, Philadelphia Eagles

Here’s a rundown on everyone who was drafted, signed, or invited to a rookie mini-camp during the 2026 NFL Draft.

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Jeremiyah Love | CBC

• Team: Arizona Cardinals (1st Round, No. 3 overall).
• Love was unstoppable at CBC as he helped the Cadets win back-to-back Class 6 state titles (2021, 2022) including a 317 total yards and 5 TD performance.
• Notable High School Stats: Ran for 1,291 rushing yards, 22 TDs (9.2 yards per carry) his final year at CBC.
• At Notre Dame: Doak Walker Award winner (2025); set a Notre Dame record with 13 consecutive games with a rushing TD, went viral for having the most impressive TD run of recent history

Kevin Coleman Jr. | St. Mary’s

• Team: Miami Dolphins (5th Round, No. 177 overall)..
• At St. Mary’s: Coleman was Mr. Everything as a 2 way player and helped St. Mary’s win a Class 3 state title in 2021
• Notable High School Stats:
  • 37 catches, 985 yards, 17 TDs.
  • Rushing: 435 yards and 6 TDs.
  • Returns: 573 yards and 6 TDs on 21 returns.
• In College: Made headlines by committing to Jackson State over notable Power 5 schools. Named SWAC Freshman of the Year at Jackson State; later had a breakout 66-catch season at Missouri (2025).

Will Kacmarek | MICDS

• Team: Miami Dolphins (3rd Round, No. 87 overall).
• High School Stats: Kacmarek was a consistent presence on both sides of the ball, primarily as a tight end.
• Notable high school stats:
  • Finished his career with 41 receptions for 510 yards
  • As a defensive end he had 162 total tackles and 23 sacks
• In college: Originally committed and played at Ohio, but transferred to Ohio State and was a key piece on the Ohio State offense for the 2024 championship run

Will Lee III | Kirkwood

• Team: Carolina Panthers (4th Round, No. 129 overall).
• High School Accolades: Lee was a dominating force everywhere he went
  • Multiple first team all conference selections and first team all state selection in 2019
  • 61 tackles, 14 TFLs and 4 sacks as a junior
• College: NJCAA All-American at Iowa Western; at Texas A&M he finished his career with 92 tackles and 20 pass deflections
• Earned the nickname “The Blanket” for his lockdown press-coverage ability. He went viral for sending a Mizzou receiver a blanket the night before the game.

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Other Draftees:

• Gabriel Rubio (DL, Notre Dame)
  • High School: Lutheran St. Charles
  • NFL Team: Pittsburgh Steelers (6th Round)
• Cashius Howell (LB, Texas A&M)
  • High School: Rockhurst
  • NFL Team: Cincinnati Bengals (2nd Round)
• Dominique Orange (DL, Iowa State)
  • High School: North KC
  • NFL Team: Minnesota Vikings (3rd Round)
• Keyshaun Elliott (LB, Michigan State)
  • High School: Richmond
  • NFL Team: Chicago Bears (5th Round)
• Beau Stephens (OL, Kentucky)
  • High School: Blue Springs South
  • NFL Team: Seattle Seahawks (5th Round)

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These are guys who have been signed as undrafted free agents (UDFA)

• Daylan Carnell (DB, Missouri)
  • High School: DeSmet Jesuit
  • NFL Team: Pittsburgh Steelers (UDFA Signing)
• Stephen Hall (DB, Missouri)
  • High School: Cardinal Ritter
  • NFL Team: Houston Texans (UDFA Signing)
• Jeff Caldwell (WR, Lindenwood/Cincinnati)
  • High School: Cass Technical (St. Louis Native)
  • NFL Team: Kansas City Chiefs (UDFA Signing)
• Jeremiah McClendon (CB, Southern Illinois)
  • High School: Kirkwood
  • NFL Team: New Orleans Saints (UDFA Signing)
• Keontez Lewis (WR, Southern Illinois)
  • High School: East St. Louis
  • NFL Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (UDFA Signing)