An unexpected star is gaining major attention online ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft – despite the fact he’s barely played football.
Nigerian prospect Uar Bernard has gone viral in recent weeks as he steps up his preparations for this year’s Draft, with many fans left stunned by his physical traits.
Bernard stands at 6’4′ and weighs 306lbs while also boasting 11-inch hands and just 6 percent body fat. He also recently recorded a vertical jump of 39 inches.
On top of that, he also produced a broad jump of 10’10’, which is 14 inches more than any other defensive tackle at the NFL combine this year.
If the stats weren’t enough to bring attention to the 21-year-old, a number of coaches have waxed lyrical about his performance in the combine thus far.
Speaking to The Athletic, trainer Jordan Luallen said: ‘Hands down, he is the most explosive athlete I’ve ever seen in my life. He broad jumped 10-10, and it was effortless. At 306 pounds. I’ve never seen anything like it.’
Nigerian prospect Uar Bernard has gone viral ahead of the NFL Draft later this month
Bernard stands at 6’4′ and 306lbs while also boasting 11-inch hands and 6 percent body fat
Bernard also produced a 40-yard dash time of 4.63 seconds at the combine
Bernard also produced a 40-yard dash time of 4.63 seconds at the combine.
Speaking to the same outlet, quarterback coach George Whitfield added: ‘The numbers don’t even do him justice.’
Later on this month, Bernard will head to Pittsburgh for this year’s NFL Draft and is projected to be picked on the third day, according to Skyler Fulton, the head of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program.
Fulton said that Bernard’s progress ‘has been crazy to watch’.
Bernard grew up in a small village in Nigeria, where he initially began playing basketball – until a coach suggested that he should try football.
The 21-year-old then attended several camps in Africa before being picked up by the NFL’s IPP program.
When asked what it would mean to get Drafted later this month, Bernard said: ‘That’ll be like an answered prayer for me’.
