adidas announced the launch of its 2026 NFL Rookie Class, which includes 14 of the league’s top prospects and represents the most projected first-round picks to date for the brand. This milestone underscores adidas’s continued growth and presence in football. The class features Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, along with Arvell Reese, Carnell Tate, Caleb Downs, Reuben Bain Jr., Kenyon Sadiq, and additional talents from adidas partner universities and leading programs nationwide.
adidas hosted members of the class at its U.S. headquarters to participate in the company’s inaugural adidas Football Pro Day. This comprehensive event was designed to provide the incoming partners with an introduction to the value and expectations of a partnership with the brand, as well as to support their professional development. During their time on campus, the athletes engaged in gear testing and evaluation, custom fittings, brand meetings, and styling sessions.
The class is led by several players expected to be among the first picked in this year’s Draft, including Fernando Mendoza, Arvell Reese, Caleb Downs, Reuben Bain Jr., Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson and Kenyon Sadiq.
Mendoza joins the class after leading the Indiana Hoosiers to the National Championship, adidas’ first in the College Football Playoff era, and becoming the first-ever Indiana University player to win the Heisman Trophy. Projected as the top overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Mendoza became part of the adidas family during his senior season through an NIL partnership. His inclusion in this class represents a natural next step in his career.
The full 2026 adidas NFL Rookie Class includes:
- Fernando Mendoza | QB | Indiana University
- Arvell Reese | LB | The Ohio State University
- Carnell Tate | WR | The Ohio State University
- Caleb Downs | S | The Ohio State University
- Rueben Bain Jr. | DE | University of Miami
- Jordyn Tyson | WR | Arizona State University
- Makai Lemon | WR | University of Southern California
- Kenyon Sadiq | TE | University of Oregon
- Jacob Rodriguez | LB | Texas Tech University
- Denzel Boston | WR | University of Washington
- KC Concepcion | WR | Texas A&M University
- D’Angelo Ponds | DB | Indiana University
- Jonah Coleman | RB | University of Washington
- Elijah Sarratt | WR | Indiana University
As adidas partners, members of the 2026 NFL Rookie Class will have access to the brand’s comprehensive portfolio of performance innovation, partnership support, and product development programs. They will join a distinguished group of elite NFL athletes representing adidas both on and off the field, including Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons, Rome Odunze, Brock Purdy, Trevor Lawrence, Travis Hunter, Abdul Carter, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Garrett Wilson, Chris Jones, and others.
During their visit to the Portland campus, the athletes had the opportunity to preview the brand’s newly renovated Innovation Lab. This facility fosters collaboration between athletes and designers, enabling real-time testing, evaluation, and development for sports such as football. As part of the experience, the athletes tested a variety of innovations, including the recently launched ADIZERO HORIZON cleat and the new line of CLIMACOOL 3D-printed footwear.
The group was also the first in the world to be introduced to Project R.A.P. (Radical Athlete Perception), an innovative platform for developing sports products, including those for American football. This platform leverages additive manufacturing to enhance the sense of movement, allowing for the creation of customized products tailored to various sports and athletes.
The initial sports performance application centered on athlete perception is in basketball, featuring a new 3D-printed shoe that offers a customized fit along with tailored support, cushioning, and rigidity. The shoe recently debuted on the court and will be available for purchase in the upcoming months. Additionally, class members had the opportunity to test a new American football cleat developed from the same platform, which is currently in development and is expected to be available for athletes later this year.
Photos/Adidas