The Herd with Colin Cowherd THE HERD - Hour 3 - Live from the NFL Combine
Feb 26, 2026
Bruce Feldman, longtime national college football reporter and NFL draft analyst, reports live from the Combine. He breaks down Fernando Mendoza’s rise, which coaches shaped him, and Mendoza’s mental toughness. Feldman highlights breakout prospects who could climb with Combine testing and spots athletic freaks and intriguing small‑school QBs.
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Mendoza's Unlikely Rise From Two Star To Draft Prospect
- Fernando Mendoza rose from a two-star recruit with no FBS offers to an early draft riser through steady development and high academics.
- Bruce Feldman credits Cal coach Kurt Sweeney and Mendoza's resiliency after mistakes, citing comeback drives against Oregon and Penn State.
Big Ten Is Dominating Recent Draft Talent Pools
- The Big Ten's talent surge is reshaping draft composition away from the SEC, driven by NIL and the transfer portal.
- Feldman notes 10 Big Ten prospects in a top-100 list and more players from Miami and Big 12 than the entire SEC in the top 20.
Combine Freaks Can Boost Draft Stock Fast
- Certain nontraditional tight ends and 'freak' athletes can spike draft value at the combine.
- Feldman highlights Idaho's Kenyon Sadiq (42-inch vertical, 250 lbs) and Ohio State's Sonny Styles (6'4+, 240+, 11-foot broad jump) as explosive mismatches.