Nigeria's viral defensive lineman to visit Broncos ahead of NFL draft
The Broncos are taking a look at a Nigerian draft prospect who went viral with a top-ranked athleticism score.
The Denver Broncos are taking a look at an international prospect (with no American football experience) ahead of the 2026 NFL draft. The Broncos are set to host Nigerian defensive lineman Uar Bernard on a pre-draft visit, according to the Denver Post 's Luca Evans . Bernard (6-4, 306 pounds) went viral at last week's HBCU showcase after running a 40-yard dash in 4.
63 seconds and posting a 39-inch vertical jump. His athleticism score (96) ranked first among all defensive tackles in this year's class, according to NFL Next Gen Stats . Bernard started playing basketball when he was 16, later switching to training for American football in 2024.
Usually, international players with no experience are considered undrafted free agent prospects, but Bernard's incredible athleticism has pundits projecting him as a late-round draft pick (Denver holds three picks in the seventh round ). This is the biggest freak athlete in this year’s NFL draft. I’d never heard of him till two days ago.
He’s from a small village in Nigeria. He is 6-4 1/2, 306 lbs and jumps 10-10. Some folks in the NFL think he’ll go on Day 3 of the draft.