Last summer, Ohio State’s locker room got a quiet preview of what was coming. Jeremiah Smith inked his NIL deal with Adidas and slipped into the Three Stripes. Fast forward to March 2026, the brand unveiled its 2026 rookie class with Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza sitting right in the middle of it. But the good news for Buckeye fans is that three of their most dangerous draft prospects made it to the list.
LB Arvell Reese, safety Caleb Downs, and WR Carnell Tate are among the 14 new signees by Adidas. Fresh off leading Indiana to its first national title, Fernando Mendoza headlines the group as Mel Kiper Jr.’s No. 1 overall prospect. But he’s not alone at the top.
Let’s start with Arvell Reese who served two years as a backup, one year as a starter, and who’s suddenly a projected top-3 pick. The 6’4, 243 pounder started just one season at Ohio State, finished with 69 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 10 TFLs, and still walked away as a unanimous All-American. Fox analyst Joel Klatt even described him as “a longer, more physical Micah Parsons.”
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Now Caleb Downs is a proven safety with experience. Across three college seasons, he stacked 257 tackles, forced turnovers, and scored on special teams. At Ohio State, he piled up 150 tackles and played deep safety, box defender, and slot matchup. Some projections even have him going No. 2 overall, potentially tying the highest draft slot ever for a safety.
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And then there’s Carnell Tate. The 6’3 WR averaged 17.2 yards per catch last season. Some projections are even putting him as high as the top-10. One team with interest is the New Orleans Saints. Still, the Indiana QB is the story of this class. From NIL partner to national champion to projected No. 1 pick, Fernando Mendoza’s journey with Adidas is a long-term investment finally paying off.
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“Adidas has been part of my story since I got to Indiana,” he said. “So, getting to continue that into the next chapter feels right. Coming to Portland with this class and seeing what the brand is building – the innovation, the investment, the people – it reinforced that this is where I want to be. I can’t wait to get to work.”
His words carry weight because Adidas is building continuity from college to the league.
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Adidas signs one of the best classes
Adidas’ vision of excellence was on full display in Portland, where it hosted its first-ever Football Pro Day. All 14 signees participated in it. They also had first-hand experience on how the partnership would proceed. US Sports & Creation Center Portland GM Aaron Seabron said the goal is to support these players as they join the NFL.
“Oour focus is on giving them access to the innovation, product, and platform that help them succeed at the highest level,” he said. “Bringing them to Portland to experience our Innovation Lab and meet the teams behind our performance products is an important step in building those relationships from day one.”
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Last year’s class included Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter. This year’s group might be even deeper as it features six national championship players, three from Ohio State and three from Indiana including CB D’Angelo Ponds and WR Elijah Sarratt. Adidas has previously signed NFL greats like Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons, and Garrett Wilson and their latest move is setting the pace.
Now what’s left to see is what draft night on April 23 in Pittsburgh will bring. How many of these names will come off the board early and make an impact in the NFL? Still if this class hits the way it’s trending, Adidas will own the draft night.