The 2026 NFL Draft is just days away, and multiple former Hawkeyes hope to hear their names called in Pittsburgh.
One player that has been steadily rising since his dynamic performance at the NFL Combine is linebacker Karson Sharar.
Sharar's vertical measured at 40 inches, an amazing mark for a big linebacker, and he also ran a solid 4.56-second forty-yard dash. If he wasn't on scouts' radars before the Combine, he certainly is now.
After his elite performance at the Combine, combined with his stellar training at the University of Iowa, Sharar has become a name to watch.
ESPN tabbed Sharar as a big sleeper in the 2026 NFL Draft
Last season, the streak of great linebacker play continued with Sharar stepping in as a first-year starter after Jay Higgins moved on to the NFL.
Sharar stepped in and the middle of the defense didn't skip a beat.
After one season as the starter, Sharar has the potential to become the next solid NFL linebacker that Phil Parker and the program have produced, and ESPN thinks he could be one of the biggest steals in the Draft.
ESPN's Adam Rittenberg labeled Sharar as his biggest sleeper in the upcoming draft, calling him a "pretty gifted" guy.
Rittenberg also said that he holds a lot of value for whoever takes him, and he will definitely play a role on special teams right away.
Like multiple Iowa linebackers before him, Sharar has great instincts and is always in the right place at the right time, something you can't coach. Combine that gift with his speed and athleticism, and he could be one of the best late-round selections this year.
NFL analyst Lance Zierlein currently projects Sharar to go in the late seventh round or as a priority free agent after going undrafted.
There is no doubt that whoever takes a chance on Sharar is getting a polished product, and we won't be surprised to hear his name a lot more in the future.
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