The 2026 NFL Draft produced 257 picks across three days in Green Bay, but the roster-building process did not stop when the final selection was made Saturday evening. Within minutes of the drafts conclusion, all 32 teams were free to negotiate with players who went uncalled, and the scramble to sign undrafted free agents — UDFAs — began in earnest. Upstate South Carolina had more reason than usual to track those moves closely.
Wofford College safety Maximus Pulley, an All-American from the Spartanburg campus, agreed to a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles shortly after the draft ended, making him one of the most notable FCS players to reach an NFL signing table from the Class of 2026. Pulley started all 34 games during his Wofford career, amassing 185 tackles, seven interceptions, three defensive touchdowns, 16 pass breakups and five fumble recoveries. He earned first-team All-Southern Conference honors and was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, the top individual prize in FCS football. The last time a Wofford player was selected in an NFL Draft was 1958, making Pulleys UDFA deal a generational milestone for Gibbs Stadium.
Clemson, which set a program record by sending nine players into the draft — none falling further than the fifth round — contributed two additional Tigers to the UDFA pool. Cornerback Jeadyn Lukus signed with the Tennessee Titans, and offensive tackle Tristian Leigh agreed to a deal with the Minnesota Vikings. Lukus, a Mauldin native who played 43 career games for the Tigers and recorded 11 pass breakups with two interceptions over four seasons, had battled injuries throughout his college career but showcased range and ball skills that fit the Titans developmental needs. Leigh, a former five-star recruit, started 33 of his 42 career appearances for Clemson and played 2,202 offensive snaps over five seasons. Both signings extend Clemsons connection to the NFL well beyond its nine draftees, bringing the programs total pipeline output from this cycle to eleven players entering NFL rosters or training-camp competitions.
The University of South Carolina sent edge rusher Bryan Thomas Jr. to the Jacksonville Jaguars, also as an undrafted free agent. Thomas finished his senior season in 2025 with 7.0 sacks and three forced fumbles, leading the Gamecocks in sacks and earning third-team All-SEC recognition from league coaches. He finished his career with 92 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks across 46 games. Jacksonville ranked 27th in the NFL in team sacks last season, making Thomas a useful depth candidate as the organization looks for pass-rush development. Thomas was a team captain and co-winner of the Gamecock Defenses Joe Morrison MVP award in 2025.
Across the league, the post-draft UDFA window produced its typical flurry of activity. Notable signings elsewhere included Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King with the Carolina Panthers, Louisville quarterback Miller Moss with the Chicago Bears, and Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones with the Green Bay Packers — continuing a trend of teams stockpiling developmental quarterbacks immediately after the draft. Woffords Pulley joined a Philadelphia receiver room already retooled through the draft, competing for a safety spot on a roster that has consistently identified overlooked talent from smaller programs.
The broader Clemson draft class made program history before a single UDFA deal was signed. Nine Tigers were taken — tying the 2016 class for the most in a single draft under the current seven-round format — and all nine came off the board within the first five rounds. Offensive tackle Blake Miller went 17th overall to the Detroit Lions. Defensive tackle Peter Woods was taken 29th to the Kansas City Chiefs. Edge rusher T.J. Parker went 35th to the Buffalo Bills. Cornerback Avieon Terrell went 48th to the Atlanta Falcons. Wide receiver Antonio Williams was taken 71st to the Washington Commanders. Quarterback Cade Klubnik fell to the New York Jets at 110th. Linebacker Wade Woodaz went to the Houston Texans at 123rd. Defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart, a South Carolina native, was taken 155th by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Running back Adam Randall rounded out the class at 174th to the Baltimore Ravens.
For the Upstate football calendar, the UDFA signings carry particular weight at Wofford, where the program at Spartanburgs 13,000-seat Gibbs Stadium competes at the FCS level in the Southern Conference. Pulleys Eagles deal gives the Terriers their first active NFL-affiliated player since the program produced Brenton Bersin, who played for the Carolina Panthers. NFL scouts have increasingly combed FCS rosters for overlooked athletes, and Pulleys combination of tackling production, ball-hawking and All-American credentials made him a clear priority target once the seventh round ended.
Deals for undrafted free agents are typically one-year contracts at the league minimum, and competition during training camp and the preseason determines whether a player makes the final 53-man roster, lands on the practice squad, or is released. History suggests the odds are steep — most UDFAs do not survive final cuts — but players from programs like Wofford with strong football instincts and scheme versatility have beaten those odds before. Pulleys college profile, centered on consistency and big-play ability over four-plus seasons, gives him a legitimate case to make in Philadelphias training camp.
