University of Toledo sees 3 Rockets invited to NFL Scouting Combine

TOLEDO, Ohio — Three former Toledo football players are heading to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, the most of any Group of Six school and more than the other 12 Mid-American schools combined according to the university. 

Defensive backs Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Avery Smith and Andre Fuller will head to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana for the combine. Defensive backs will participate in media interviews on Feb. 26 and on-field workouts on Feb. 27. 

The university said the three invites are tied for the most Rockets ever selected to participate in the annual combine. In 2017, Kareem Hunt, Treyvon Hester and Michael Roberts particpated and last year Toledo had two invites for defensive lineman Darius Alexander and safety Maxen Hook.

Safety McNeil-Warren was named to three All-America teams last year: Second Team All-America by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Sporting News and Third Team All-America by the Associated Press. He’s the fourth Rocket in Toledo’s 109-year history to be named to at least three major All-America teams and just the second in the past 54 years.

He was also named the “Group of 6” Defensive Player of the Year by Pro Football Focus and to the PFF All-America Team. McNeil-Warren had 77 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and five pass breakups in 2025. He also had three forced fumbles and two fumbles recovered.

Cornerback 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 the second in the MAC in passes defended in 2024 at 16 and third last season at 12. Smith saw his draft stock rise with his performance at the East-West Shrine Bowl on Jan. 27.

Cornerback Fuller was a First-Team All-MAC honoree in 2025 had 49 tackles, one interception and 11 breakups. He missed the 2024 season because of an injury, but originally joined the Rockets in 2022 after starting off at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The university said Fuller also had a strong performance at the East-West Shrine Bowl.

The three are hoping to be the latest selected for the NFL Draft. Since 2017, there have been 11 Toledo Rockets drafted.