With the selections of linebacker Jake Golday in the second round to the Vikings and the fifth-round picks of Joe Royer to the Browns , Cyrus Allen to the Chiefs and Gavin Gerhardt in the seventh to Minnesota, the Bearcats have now had 22 players selected in the NFL draft since 2021 and 55 since 2000.
Unfortunately, several draft-eligible Bearcats were not selected, notably Jeff Caldwell and Dontay Corleone, who had late-round projections. These Bearcats will now have to make the NFL by way of being undrafted free agents. The most famous UC player to recently do this was Ivan Pace Jr., who will now be a teammate of Golday and Gerhardt.
Pace went unpicked in 2023 and signed a free agent deal with the Vikings. He quickly became a starter and a Vikings mainstay.
The Enquirer will list where or if the following Bearcats will be picked up by an NFL team.
Jeff Caldwell – Caldwell, who played one season at UC after transferring from FCS Lindenwood University, was measured at over 6-foot-5 and 216 pounds at the NFL Combine. His 40-yard dash time was 4.31, he had a vertical leap of 42" and a broad jump of 11'2".
After catching 53 passes for 11 touchdowns at Lindenwood to become a Walter Payton Award finalist for Best FCS Offensive Player, Caldwell came to UC and had 32 catches and six touchdowns.
Dontay Corleone – "The Godfather" was at the NFL Combine and the UC Pro Day but hasn't worked out yet for scouts other than what's been put on tape. He did do interviews at the NFL Combine and was measured at 6-foot-0.5 and 340 pounds.
Because of nagging injuries, Corleone may have to work his way up. His freshman year at UC, he was first-team American Athletic Conference and a Freshman All-American with 45.5 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. In 2023, he was second-team Big 12 with 39 tackles, 6.5 TFL and three sacks. He made first-team Big 12 in 2024, though his production was 26 tackles, five TFL and 3.5 sacks. Limited to 13 tackles last year, some due to being double-teamed, he was second-team Big 12.
Jack Dingle – Dingle worked out for the Cincinnati Bengals and has had other visits. He's 6-foot-4 and 232 pounds coming off of a 60-tackle season with three sacks. At UC's Pro Day, he ran a 4.58 40-yard dash, had a vertical leap of 35.5 inches and a broad jump of 10 feet, 4 inches. He did 23 bench press reps at 225 pounds.
"Jack played a lot of football here," UC linebackers coach Cortney Braswell said. "He started more games than any linebacker in UC history. He's a guy that elevates the room."
Patrick Gurd – Guard will get looks at tight end or fullback (H-back). He's over 6-foot-3 and weighs 244 pounds with a 4.8 40, a 37.5-inch vertical and 10-foot, 3-inch broad jump.
The Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.The Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.The Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.The Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026. UC's Mathew McDoom works out for Pro Day.The Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.The Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026. Miami's Jackson Kuwatch works out for Pro Day.The Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.The Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.The Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.The Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026. UC's UC's Jack Dingle works out for Pro Day.The Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.The Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.The Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.The Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.The Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.The Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.The Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.The Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.The Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026. UC's Logan Wilson works out for Pro Day.The Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026. UC's Deondre Buford works out for Pro Day.The Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026. Jalen Kitna works out for Pro Day.The Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026. UC's Logan Wilson (left) and Mathew McDoom work out for Pro Day.1 / 22Bengals host Pro Day for draft eligible playersThe Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.1 / 22Bengals host Pro Day for draft eligible playersThe Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.2 / 22Bengals host Pro Day for draft eligible playersThe Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.3 / 22Bengals host Pro Day for draft eligible playersThe Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.4 / 22Bengals host Pro Day for draft eligible playersThe Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026. UC's Mathew McDoom works out for Pro Day.5 / 22Bengals host Pro Day for draft eligible playersThe Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.6 / 22Bengals host Pro Day for draft eligible playersThe Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026. Miami's Jackson Kuwatch works out for Pro Day.7 / 22Bengals host Pro Day for draft eligible playersThe Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.8 / 22Bengals host Pro Day for draft eligible playersThe Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.9 / 22Bengals host Pro Day for draft eligible playersThe Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.10 / 22Bengals host Pro Day for draft eligible playersThe Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026. UC's UC's Jack Dingle works out for Pro Day.11 / 22Bengals host Pro Day for draft eligible playersThe Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.12 / 22Bengals host Pro Day for draft eligible playersThe Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.13 / 22Bengals host Pro Day for draft eligible playersThe Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.14 / 22Bengals host Pro Day for draft eligible playersThe Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.15 / 22Bengals host Pro Day for draft eligible playersThe Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.16 / 22Bengals host Pro Day for draft eligible playersThe Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.17 / 22Bengals host Pro Day for draft eligible playersThe Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.18 / 22Bengals host Pro Day for draft eligible playersThe Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026.19 / 22Bengals host Pro Day for draft eligible playersThe Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026. UC's Logan Wilson works out for Pro Day.20 / 22Bengals host Pro Day for draft eligible playersThe Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026. UC's Deondre Buford works out for Pro Day.21 / 22Bengals host Pro Day for draft eligible playersThe Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026. Jalen Kitna works out for Pro Day.22 / 22Bengals host Pro Day for draft eligible playersThe Bengals invite 32 draft eligible players for an early morning workout for Pro Day at Paycor Stadium on Tuesday April 14, 2026. UC's Logan Wilson (left) and Mathew McDoom work out for Pro Day.Deondre Buford – Like Gerhardt, Buford was an offensive line starter who is over 6-foot-4 and weighs 323 pounds.
Logan Wilson – Wilson is just over 5-foot-9 and 172 pounds, but has wheeled out a 4.42 40 and has a 35-inch vertical leap and 10-foot, 3-inch broad jump.
Matthew McDoom – McDoom is of similar build to Wilson and has a 4.46 40 time, a vertical of 33 inches and a broad jump of 10 feet, 6 inches.
Xavier Williams – The safety is over 6-foot-2 and weighs 217 pounds. Williams ran a 4.56 40 at UC's Pro Day, had a 38.5-inch vertical and 10-foot, 5-inch broad jump.
Jalen Hunt – Hunt has had visits with the Bengals and Detroit Lions and is over 6-foot-2 and 310 pounds as a defensive lineman. He did 25 bench press reps.
Isaiah Rogers – Rogers is 6-foot-1 and 290 pounds and played defensive line with Hunt.
CJ McCray – McCray is over 6-foot-3 and weighs 244 pounds as an edge. He ran a 4.66 40, had a 36.5-inch vertical leap and a 10-foot, 4-inch broad jump.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Dontay Corleone, Jeff Caldwell among Cincinnati Bearcats undrafted in NFL