Flag football will be included in the 2028 Summer Olympics, and it has led to a ton of speculation from NFL players and fans about who might be on Team USA. Most likely, the squad will be comprised of both current NFL players and guys still in college, but what might the roster look like if only current college players are on the squad?
Offense
QB: Caleb Williams, USC
Bo Nix deserves serious consideration based on his combination of playmaking ability and arm talent, but Williams has the same kind of traits and might be more willing to consistently chuck throws deep in a setting where the Team USA pass-catchers should have a clear advantage. Last year’s Heisman winner can also outrun defenders in the open field.
RB: Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss
There are plenty of talented running backs to consider, including Nicholas Singleton from Penn State—who might have the edge as a real-life NFL prospect. But Judkins is very elusive with the ball in his hands, and he should be able to do damage on handoffs and underneath targets.
WR: Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
Real-life NFL wide receivers like Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, and A.J. Brown will have something to say about it, but Harrison is arguably a lock for Team USA if he wants to participate in 2028. In addition to prototype size and an all-around skillset, Harrison has the speed to stretch the field and create space for others.
WR: Keon Coleman, Florida State
Coleman should be a monster on jump balls against whoever other countries try to put on him, and the six-foot-four frame can make him a dominant target in scoring territory as well. Good luck to the rest of the world versus Harrison and Coleman.
TE: Brock Bowers, Georgia
Bowers is so versatile that Team USA might want to consider making him the RB/TE and going with three wide receivers, but the game plan should still include getting the explosive playmaker the ball in his hands. Bowers has rushed 19 times for 193 yards (10.3 average) and five touchdowns in three college seasons.
Defense
EDGE: Laiatu Latu, UCLA
Latu is expected to be a top-ten pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and his relentlessness is a big reason why. For a hypothetical Team USA defense, Latu would be tasked with tracking down the quarterback on rushes, and he can also fly around to defend runs and short throws.
LB: Harold Perkins Jr., LSU
A superstar 19-yard-old linebacker that will be squarely in his prime by 2028, Perkins can tackle, cover, and get after the quarterback as a blitzer. It’s easy to imagine Perkins locking down the middle of the field and making plays from sideline-to-sideline as an impact player in the Olympics.
CB: Travis Hunter, Colorado
Hunter is a legitimate two-way player that might be the first-overall pick if you were to do a flag football draft, and Team USA could certainly use him on both sides of the ball. At cornerback, Hunter could turn defense into offense while also locking down opponents.
CB: Will Johnson, Michigan
Johnson eventually became a difference-maker at cornerback as a true freshman for the Wolverines, including two interceptions last year in the Big Ten Championship. The Detroit native should be a household name by the end of the season if Michigan lives up to expectations with another College Football Playoff appearance, and he gets the slight edge over Kool-Aid McKinstry.
S: Malaki Starks, Georgia
The range of Starks on the backend has been on display since last season, and he projects to be an early first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Quarterbacks will have to think twice about pushing the ball downfield with Starks patrolling, and he can also come up with overthrows across the middle.