UCF’s Nyjalik Kelly Earns NFL Combine Invite After Standout Senior Season
UCF edge rusher Nyjalik Kelly is heading to the 2026 NFL Draft Combine, and he’s bringing a résumé that’s hard to ignore. After a senior season where he consistently disrupted opposing offenses, Kelly will now get a chance to showcase his skills on one of the biggest pre-draft stages in football.
Kelly, who earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors, finished his final season in Orlando with 46 tackles and three sacks. But the stat line only tells part of the story.
He was a difference-maker on the edge, forcing a team-high two fumbles-both of which were returned for touchdowns-and snagging the only interception of his college career. That kind of playmaking ability doesn’t just show up in the box score; it changes games.
Alongside fellow UCF pass rusher Malachi Lawrence, Kelly accepted an invitation to the 2026 NFL Combine earlier this week. The two will be among more than 300 draft hopefuls looking to make their mark in front of scouts, coaches, and general managers. For Kelly, it’s a culmination of a college journey that included early adversity and a strong finish.
After missing time earlier in his career and exploring the possibility of a medical redshirt, Kelly made the decision in mid-January to declare for the draft. In a message shared on Instagram, he thanked his family and Knight Nation, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to wear the black and gold.
“I have been blessed and fortunate over the past two seasons, to have played for Coach Frost and the entire Knights Coaching Staff. Thank you for the amazing opportunity to be a part of Knight's Nation,” Kelly wrote.
Kelly wraps up his college career with 12.5 sacks and over 100 total tackles. He also led UCF this past season with eight quarterback hurries, a stat that speaks to his relentless motor and ability to affect the pocket even when he’s not getting home for the sack.
A former four-star recruit out of Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, Kelly came into the college ranks with high expectations. Back in 2021, recruiting analyst Andrew Ivins projected NFL potential for the young pass rusher, praising his explosive first step, flexibility, and knack for finishing plays.
“Quick first step allows him to fire off the ball and get vertical. Flexibility allows him to bend and run the corner. Does a nice job of getting home and making the play more times than not,” Ivins noted at the time.
Now, Kelly’s heading to the Combine with a chance to prove that projection right. He’s not just a raw athlete anymore-he’s a refined playmaker with a full college career under his belt and a knack for showing up in big moments.
UCF had four players at last year’s Combine, including second-round pick RJ Harvey (Denver Broncos) and fifth-rounder Mac McWilliams (Philadelphia Eagles). While not all of them heard their names called on draft weekend, the program has shown it can develop NFL talent-and Kelly is the latest example.
Come Combine week, scouts will be watching to see how Kelly tests, how he interviews, and how he carries himself among the nation’s top prospects. But if his senior season is any indication, he’s ready for the moment.