Heel Tough Blog: Two Tar Heels Bound for 2026 NFL Scouting Combine

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The Tar Heels don’t have many prospects from this past year’s team that look bound for the NFL, but the two that look like sure bets to at least be with teams in training camps received their combine invites on Wednesday.

The NFL released its list of 319 prospects that will attend the 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis earlier this morning and the list contained just two Tar Heels in cornerbacks Thaddeus Dixon and Marcus Allen.

Dixon, who is looked at as a Day 3 pick by most outlets right now, spent this past season with the Tar Heels after spending the previous two seasons at Washington following a stint at the junior college level. In his lone season with the Tar Heels, he finished with 19 total tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and five pass breakups while playing 397 snaps across seven games. In coverage, he allowed 16 of his 26 targets to be caught for 244 yards and a touchdown while allowing a 105.3 passer rating against. In his college career, Dixon piled up 88 total tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, two interceptions, 20 pass breakups and one forced fumble. In coverage, he allowed 65 of 117 career targets to be caught for 798 yards and seven touchdowns while allowing 89.6 passer rating against.

As for Allen, who is seen as an undrafted free agent by most outlets at this point, he spent the last four seasons in Chapel Hill with the Tar Heels in what was a very inconsistent career. This past season, as a senior, he finished with 36 total tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, 0.5 sack and seven pass breakups. In coverage, he allowed 39 of his 65 targets to be caught for 470 yards and three touchdowns while allowing a 97.6 pass rating against and taking nine penalties. In his four year career, Allen racked up 137 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sack, three interceptions and 18 pass deflections. In coverage, he allowed 118 of his 197 career targets to be caught for 1,597 yards and eight touchdowns while allowing a 93.0 passer rating.

These are likely the Tar Heels two prospects that have a chance of being drafted and strong performances in Indy following their all-star game appearances could go a long way towards helping that.