Where the top 2026 NFL Draft prospects grew up and what their hometowns reveal

On April 23, lifelong dreams will become reality as the 2026 NFL Draft kicks off. Over the course of three days, more than 250 college football standouts will hear their names called, marking the start of their professional careers.

But long before draft night, these players were putting in the work in hometowns across the country. From school quality and housing costs to local football culture and income levels, these places offer a glimpse into the types of communities where top young athletes develop.

Here’s a look at the top projected 2026 NFL Draft prospects as of April 13 (per CBS Sports), where they grew up, and what their hometowns reveal about their path to the NFL.

1. Fernando Mendoza | Miami

• High school: Christopher Columbus High School
• School rating: A+
• Median home sale price: $565,000
• Income required to afford a median-priced home: $136,151
• Median household income: $62,462
• Unemployment rate: 3.5%

Miami holds the unique distinction of being the hometown of two highly rated prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft: Fernando Mendoza and Rueben Bain. Fernando Mendoza, the quarterback for Indiana and the nation's top prospect, attended the prestigious Christopher Columbus High School in western Miami. The program has a strong track record of producing NFL talent, with five alumni currently active in the league.

Miami stands out for its highly rated schools (A- district rating), year-round warm weather, and strong football culture. It also ranks among the top cities in the country for producing NFL players, backed by competitive high school programs and consistent exposure to top-tier talent. However, that access comes at a cost: buyers need to earn roughly $136,000 annually to afford a median-priced home – more than double what a typical household makes.

2. Rueben Bain Jr. | Miami

• High school: Miami Central Senior High School
• School rating: C+
• Median home sale price: $565,000
• Income required to afford a median-priced home: $136,151
• Median household income: $62,462
• Unemployment rate: 3.5%

Edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. also hails from Miami. He and Fernando Mendoza met on opposite sides of this year’s national championship game, with Bain representing the University of Miami and Mendoza playing for Indiana University. The defensive star attended Miami Central Senior High School, which is located in the West Little River neighborhood on the northern edge of the city.

Although both players developed in the same city, they came from different parts of Miami, underscoring the depth of the area’s football pipeline.

3. Arvell Reese | Cleveland

• High school: Glenville High School
• School rating: D+
• Median home sale price: $230,000
• Income required to afford a median-priced home: $61,100
• Median household income: $40,801
• Unemployment rate: 3.4%

Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese grew up in Cleveland, where he attended football powerhouse Glenville High School. In fact, schools across the Cleveland Metropolitan School District – including Glenville, John F. Kennedy, and Collinwood high schools – have produced numerous future professional athletes, including notable names such as Ted Ginn Jr. and Marshon Lattimore. Ohio is also one of the top states for producing NFL players.

Cleveland, in particular, stands out for its affordability and overall cost of living, both of which remain below national averages. As home prices have risen across the country, Cleveland has seen buyers move in from more expensive markets like Los Angeles and New York in search of lower costs. With a median home price of $230,000, buyers need to earn $61,000 to afford a home, making it one of the most affordable major markets in the nation. However, the city’s median income still falls short at around $40,800. Combined with a strong network of local high school programs, Cleveland reflects how access and opportunity can exist in more affordable markets.

4. Kadyn Proctor | Des Moines, Iowa

• High school: Southeast Polk High School
• School rating: B
• Median home sale price: $290,000
• Income required to afford a median-priced home: $74,104
• Median household income: $65,932
• Unemployment rate: 3.3%

Des Moines is the hometown of Alabama offensive tackle prospect Kadyn Proctor, who attended Southeast Polk High School in the eastern part of the city. Southeast Polk is also the alma mater of former NFL quarterback Kyle Orton.

Despite being the state's most populous city, Des Moines is smaller than many major metropolitan areas. For those growing up in the area, that can mean access to local programs and opportunities, with shorter commutes and lower population density than in larger cities. The city has a steady job market, and housing is far more affordable than the national median, with a median home price of $290,000.

5. Spencer Fano | Provo, Utah

• High school: Timpview High School
• School rating: B+
• Median home sale price: $518,990
• Income required to afford a median-priced home: $117,086
• Median household income: $64,171
• Unemployment rate: 3.5%

Offensive tackle Spencer Fano didn’t stray far from home when transitioning from high school to college, opting to stay in-state to play football for the University of Utah. Timpview High has sent eight players to the pros, including Britain Covey and Karene Reid.

Provo has consistently ranked among the nation’s top-performing cities, supported by strong job and wage growth and a growing tech sector. However, Provo is one of the more expensive cities featured here. It takes about $117,100 to afford a typical home. This is nearly double the median household income of $64,171 – highlighting a significant affordability gap.

6. Jermod McCoy | Whitehouse, Texas

• High school: Whitehouse High School
• School rating: A-
• Median home sale price: $327,500
• Income required to afford a median-priced home: $76,559
• Median household income: $99,458
• Unemployment rate: 4.3%

Whitehouse, Texas, an affluent suburb just south of Tyler, is the hometown of Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy. He previously starred at Whitehouse High School, which is no stranger to top-performing talent. Three-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Patrick Mahomes is also an alumnus, along with former pro Nate Brooks.

Texas leads the country in producing NFL players, and that pipeline extends beyond major cities into smaller communities like Whitehouse. Whitehouse's relatively remote location also makes for an affordable housing market: a typical house in the area goes for less than $330,000 and requires about $76,600 in income to afford. Notably, the median household income is significantly higher at $99,458, giving many residents a bit more breathing room when it comes to homeownership.

7. Jeremiyah Love | St. Louis

• High school: Christian Brothers College High School
• School rating: A
• Median home sale price: $269,000
• Income required to afford a median-priced home: $67,008
• Median household income: $56,160
• Unemployment rate: 3.5%

Running back Jeremiyah Love attended Christian Brothers College High School – a private, college-preparatory school in St. Louis known for producing numerous college football and NFL athletes over the years, including Armon Watts and Jonathan Owens. The city has long been a contributor to football talent, producing NFL players across multiple decades.

With a median home price of $269,000, St. Louis is one of the most affordable cities featured here, requiring an income of about $67,000 to afford a typical home. At the same time, St. Louis serves as a major metropolitan area, with large health care, education, and professional sectors that support the local economy.

8. Caleb Downs | Hoschton, Georgia

• High school: Mill Creek High School
• School rating: A
• Median home sale price: $391,680
• Income required to afford a median-priced home: $94,103
• Median household income: $97,083
• Unemployment rate: 3.1%

Safety Caleb Downs grew up in Hoschton, Georgia, where he attended Mill Creek High School before committing to Ohio State over the nearby University of Georgia. The Gwinnett County Public Schools district is highly rated and has produced a significant number of NFL players and college prospects in recent years.

The Hoschton housing market is relatively affordable, with a median home sale price of around $392,000 – slightly above the statewide median. It also has the lowest unemployment rate among the cities on this list and a high median income.

9. Sonny Styles | Pickerington, Ohio

• High school: Pickerington High School Central
• School rating: A-
• Median home sale price: $332,000
• Income required to afford a median-priced home: $81,509
• Median household income: $111,833
• Unemployment rate: 3.3%

Pickerington, Ohio, is located just east of Columbus, so linebacker prospect Sonny Styles didn’t have to stray far from home when he committed to Ohio State. The city's school district, Pickerington Local School District, is highly rated and has especially high marks for sports, college prep, and academics. Styles attended Pickerington Central for high school, which has sent 7 players to the NFL since 2009.

Beyond the city’s love of football and deep-rooted sports culture, Pickerington is an affluent yet affordable city. With a median home price of $332,000, buyers need to earn about $81,500 to afford a home – well below the city’s median household income of $111,833. It also has one of the lowest unemployment rates on our list.

10. Avieon Terrell | Atlanta

• High school: Westlake High School
• School rating: B
• Median home sale price: $391,680
• Income required to afford a median-priced home: $94,103
• Median household income: $85,652
• Unemployment rate: 3.3%

Atlanta’s Westlake High School has produced its fair share of NFL talent over the years, with notable names like former league MVP Cam Newton and current Baltimore Ravens corner Nate Wiggins having attended in the past. In fact, Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell’s older brother, A.J., also played at Westlake and now stars on the hometown Atlanta Falcons.

That local success is part of a broader trend in the region: Georgia is one of the top states for producing NFL players, and Atlanta is among the leading cities for developing them.

Atlanta is one of the country's largest metro areas, yet it offers everything a resident needs without the extra costs typical of major cities. A typical home costs around $392,000, and residents need to earn about $94,000 to comfortably afford one – both below the national median. Locals also have access to extensive green spaces, including parks and trails like the Atlanta BeltLine and Piedmont Park.

How hometowns may shape NFL prospects

When you look back at where the top prospects attended high school, a pattern starts to emerge: most of this year’s stars came from highly rated high schools. Eight of the ten attended schools with a B rating or higher, and nine were in districts with similarly strong marks. These environments often offer a combination of structured academics and well-developed athletic programs that are critical to developing elite-level talent.

Many of these players also grew up in football-rich states like Florida and Georgia, where young athletes are more likely to be surrounded by talented peers, elite programs, and a highly competitive culture. Some also came from more affluent suburbs with greater access to academic and athletic resources, which further supports development.

While it’s impossible to pinpoint every factor behind a player’s rise to the top of the NFL draft, one thing is clear: It takes more than just a single school to produce elite talent. Neighborhoods, cities, and entire states shape development – providing competition, resources, and the environment necessary to turn potential into professional success.

Methodology

All data pulled on March 2026 and sourced as follows, unless otherwise noted:

Median sale price, income required at sale price, and unemployment rate relied on metropolitan area data, while the rest of the categories used city-level data. Unemployment data for Hoschton, Georgia, came from the larger Gwinnett County.