Jalen Farmer Selected in NFL Draft Fourth Round by Indianapolis
PITTSBURGH – Kentucky junior offensive guard Jalen Farmer was chosen by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round (113th overall pick) of the 2026 National Football League Draft on Saturday in Pittsburgh.
Farmer, a 6-foot-5, 318-pound native of Covington, Georgia, was a physical, powerful presence along the interior offensive line for the Wildcats in 2024 and 2025 after transferring from Florida. He played in 28 career games, four at UF and 24 at Kentucky, making 24 consecutive starts to close his collegiate career.
In 2025, he graded 84 percent with 147 blocks at the point of attack and 25 knockdown blocks. He had only two missed assignments, one penalty, two quarterback sacks and just two pressures allowed in a team-high 831 snaps. He was named the Southeastern Conference Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week in UK’s win over Auburn. He was selected as a game captain four times, vs. Ole Miss, at South Carolina, vs. Florida and at Vanderbilt. Following the season, he was invited to participate in the Panini Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine.
In 2024, he started all 12 games for the Wildcats, earning his first collegiate start at right guard against Southern Miss. He allowed just one sack all season while totaling 95 blocks at the point of attack and 18 knockdown blocks. He graded at 75 percent overall with a 99 percent assignment grade.
Off the field, Farmer was a two-time member of the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll and was a member of the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll at Florida in 2022. He also earned a spot on UK’s Spring Dean’s List in 2025.
Farmer is the first Wildcat taken in the 2026 selection process, with rounds 4-7 continuing Saturday.
Kentucky/NFL Draft Notes:
- This is the eighth consecutive draft that Kentucky has had at least one player selected (2019-26) and a Wildcat has been chosen in the fourth round or higher in all eight drafts.
- UK has had an offensive lineman drafted in five of the last eight NFL Drafts.
- Offensive tackle George Asafo-Adjei – seventh round by the New York Giants in the 2019
- Offensive guard Logan Stenberg – fourth round by the Detroit Lions in 2020
- Offensive tackle Landon Young – sixth round by the New Orleans Saints and center Luke Fortner – third round by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021
- Offensive tackle Darian Kinnard – fifth round by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022
- Offensive guard Jalen Farmer – fourth round by the Indianapolis Colts in 2026
- Farmer is the 14th Wildcat drafted by the Colts franchise, including Thomas Adkins (1954), Bradley Mills (1956), Sam Ball (1966), Rick Kestner (1966), Dick Palmer (1970), Dan Neal (1973), Dave Margavage (1974), Randy Burke (1977), Dallas Owens (1978), Tim Gooch (1981), Ivy Joe Hunter (1989), Vincent “Sweet Pea” Burns (2005) and Jacob Tamme (2008)
