Easiest/most economical way to build a pickup roller

[sanddrag]

I'm a bit concerned about bending a 1/2" 7075 hex shaft over a 26" span. We've done it before. So, I'm considering using a 3/4" hex shaft. Am I out of my mind here?

Also, I'd like to build a pickup very similar to Ri3D 1.0, but I noticed, that robot didn't have bumpers. That's why it works so well. Bumpers make a BIG difference. I did some "Crayola CAD" on the geometry of it, and I can't find a way to avoid A LOT of compression on the ball during the point at which it goes over the bumpers, while still maintaining good contact and forward reach when the ball is on the ground. Any ideas there? Maybe we'll be okay with a 13" gap in the bumpers, which should help some.