Roman Hemby is ready to step into the NFL, with his college production proving he is ready to contribute on Day 1. He is a skilled rusher who picks up yards and doesn’t fumble, and is polished as a receiver. He won’t wow fans with breakaway speed, but he will be a force on special teams with his consistent play and football IQ. National Champion who coaches raved about for his leadership and steady demeanor.
Roman Hemby 2026 NFL Draft Overview
Position: Running back
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 210 pounds
School: Indiana
2026 NFL Draft Roman Hemby Scouting Report
Strengths
- Hemby piled up the stats at Maryland and Indiana, collecting 3,467 yards on the ground with 29 touchdowns. He added 129 receptions for 1,086 yards and 5 receiving touchdowns.
- He is solid in the passing game, not only for his receiving ability but also for recognizing blocking assignments against stunts and picking up blitzes.
- His production is legit; he already has eyesight and skills for picking up yards and being a ball control dominator.
- He is a well-rounded, versatile running back who will fit as a second back, a back in the rotation.
The Roman Hemby fan club is about to📈when he gets drafted. The easiest guy to root for.
One of my favorite questions to ask young athletes is their why: why they put in the work, why their dreams always seem bigger than themselves.
Hemby had the perfect answer. pic.twitter.com/3om03iBwPV
— Natalie Spala (@_nataliespala) April 17, 2026
Weaknesses
- He had averaged 4.9 yards a carry, but never showed elite explosiveness and big play capability.
- His touchdown numbers were good, not great.
- Some scouts question if he was a product of the systems he was in, and wasn’t because of his running back skills.
- Hemby has a tendency to run too tall. At 6’0, he tends to make himself bigger than he should, exposing more room for defenders to attack and get their hands latched onto him.
- Hemby doesn’t have the speed and big-play ability to be a lead running back.
- He struggles against power rushers, and scouts are concerned about how he will hold up against big interior linemen and bull rushing attacks.
- His pass-rushing grades were among the lowest for all running backs.
- Hemby tends to take the opening that is given to him instead of being able to change directions and find better options on the backside.
- NFL teams have shown concern that his body has already endured significant pounding. He is 24 years old with nearly 800 touches in college. This is less tread on the tires than teams like to see in running back prospects.
NFL Comparison: Samaje Perine Latavius Murray
Both backs were consistent and solid running backs who were best as a second running back.
Teams With Need At Position: Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Seattle Seahawks,s Tennessee Titans, and Washington Commanders
Projection: Rounds 5-7
Teams interested in Hemby include the Houston Texans, Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, and the Tennessee Titans.
Roman Hemby is a RB prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 6.25 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 866 out of 2305 RB from 1987 to 2026.https://t.co/WCGOjqG6i6 pic.twitter.com/1qrbxGkWLQ
— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 15, 2026
Bottom Line on Roman Hemby
Hemby is a no-nonsense running back who is consistent and has produced at Maryland and Indiana. Even though he doesn’t have explosive abilities or the skill to be an every-down running back, he is everything a team wants as a backup running back. He is dependable, doesn’t fumble, and is skilled both as a rusher and receiver. He is durable. Despite nearly 800 touches in college, he didn’t miss a game due to injury. Hemby will be a solid special teams player and will work his way into a running back by committee system.
