Week 4 SCOUTING NOTEBOOK: Mendoza magic, a Salt Lake City trench battle, and more

By Jack Brentnall

As the college season progresses we are treated to more and more battles between big teams. That means a tonne of great opportunities to see NFL Draft hopefuls against top competition.

This week we have a bumper edition of the scouting notebook, ranging from a rising quarterback to some defensive linemen with contrasting fortunes.

Fernando Mendoza plants his flag

The QB1 conversation for the 2026 NFL Draft is wide open, and after his performance this weekend, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is making a strong case to plant his flag at the top of that debate.

The Hoosiers made light work of Illinois, dominating the Illini 63-10. Mendoza was nearly flawless against what looked like a quality defense, completing 21 of his 23 passes for 267 yards and five touchdowns. His passer rating in this one was 154.6.

What jumped off the tape was Mendoza’s command of the Indiana offense. Indiana attacked Illinois with a variety of quick passing concepts, and Mendoza played with the perfect blend of timing, decision making, and placement. He was able to layer throws and put the ball exactly where it needed to be, as seen on his second-quarter touchdown pass to EJ Williams. NFL scouts will also be bullish on his willingness to throw with anticipation and trust his receivers.

Mendoza isn’t the most physically gifted quarterback in this class. His arm and mobility are both good enough for the NFL level, but neither trait jumps off the screen. Instead, his calling cards are his decisiveness, processing ability, and accuracy – traits that NFL coaches covet.

The next few weeks present a major opportunity for Mendoza to cement his standing as one of the top quarterbacks in the 2026 class. He goes up against a good Iowa defense next weekend, before a Week 7 matchup against Oregon. If he can maintain his current form against top-tier competition, don’t be surprised to see him discussed as a potential top-10 pick.

Miami’s edges dominate again

Right now, there is not a better edge duo in college football than Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor. They have been making life hell for opposing offensive lines all season, and they had another outstanding performance in Week 4 against Florida.

The pair combined for a ridiculous 19 pressures in this game. Bain, who looks to be cementing his position as the top edge rusher in the class, recorded a scarcely believable pass rush win rate of 44.8%. Mesidor, a prospect whose draft stock is firmly on the rise, logged a very respectable 24.1% win rate.

What makes both players so terrifying for opposing linemen is their combination of size and quickness, giving them the ability to win in multiple ways. They have the raw power to run through the chest of their opponents, but they also showcase the movement skills to wreak havoc on the inside or outside shoulder.

The fact that both players are also excellent edge setters against the run makes them a truly imposing duo opposing offenses. Right now, nobody seems to have any answer to them, and if they keep playing like this you can expect to hear them mentioned frequently in draft discussions.

Iron sharpens iron in Salt Lake City

The marquee NFL Draft matchup of Week 4 took place in Salt Lake City, with Texas Tech’s talented edge rushing duo of David Bailey and Romello Height taking on Utah’s bookend tackles, Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu.

It’s safe to say this was a battle that didn’t disappoint. The Red Raiders may have run away with the game, but the trench battle proved to be a much more even and intriguing contest. This was the sort of back-and-forth affair that will have NFL scouts intrigued.

The Utes’ tackles did a better job of containing Texas Tech’s pass rush than anyone else has so far. Height and Bailey came into the game averaging a pass rush win rate of around 25%. Against Utah, they were held to just 10.7% and 5.9% respectively. Fano allowed a single pressure on the day, with Lomu responsible for three.

But Height and Bailey certainly had their moments. Both players showed off their trademark explosiveness, a trait that challenged even Utah’s hyper-athletic tackle duo. The two had particular success on inside counters, with both pass rushers using smooth spin moves to gain an advantage and force Utes quarterback Devon Dampier off his spot.

This was exactly the kind of high-stakes, competitive battle that scouts wanted to see, and it only reinforced the fact that all four of these players are destined for careers at the pro level.

Clemson's stars continue to underwhelm

This year’s Clemson team has been…surprising. And not in a good way. That goes for their star-studded defensive line as well. This past offseason you’d have been hard pressed to find a mock draft that didn’t have one of Peter Woods or TJ Parker projected as top 10 picks. Through four weeks, you’d now be almost surprised to see either player discussed in that range.

That’s not to say they’ve been awful. Woods in particular has had some nice moments, particularly against the run. He flashed a few times this weekend against Syracuse, finishing with four run stops.

However, neither he nor Parker has lived up to their preseason billing, particularly when it comes to rushing the passer. Clemson is averaging a pressure rate of just 25% this season, despite blitzing opposing quarterbacks on a staggering 54% of their dropbacks. The struggles of Woods and Parker are a big reason for this.

Of 303 defensive tackles with at least 50 pass rushing snaps, Woods ranks 95th in pass rush win rate. He is 164th in total pressures, and way down at 250th in PFF’s pass rushing productivity score. Things aren’t an awful lot better for Parker, who is 99th in win rate, 84th in pressures, and 169th in pass rush productivity score amongst the 313 edge rushers with at least 50 pass rushing snaps.

While there is still plenty of time left for a turnaround, the clock is ticking for both Woods and Parker. With each week that passes, these struggles are becoming more and more of a red flag for their draft stock. Without a noticeable improvement in their ability to affect the passing game, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to justify their projection as some of the top players in the 2026 class.

R Mason Thomas shines vs Auburn

The headline for the Oklahoma-Auburn game was Jackson Arnold’s return to Norman to face his former team. However, the story quickly became about the Sooners’ defense, which sacked Arnold a school record 10 times in a 24-17 win.

While seven different players were credited with sacks, it was edge rusher R Mason Thomas that really caught my eye. 

Thomas missed the first half due to a targeting suspension, but his impact was instantly felt after halftime. On his second snap of the game, he recorded a sack that effectively ended the Tigers’ drive. He then made another eye-catching play later in the third quarter, running 44 yards downfield to chase down Auburn running back Jeremiah Cobb and save a potential touchdown.

Thomas finished the game with the headline-making play, overwhelming Auburn right tackle Mason Murphy with a lethal speed-to-power move that saw him sack Jackson Arnold for a safety, clinching the game for the Sooners.

I had highlighted Thomas as a player to watch in my Week 4 preview, and this performance was a perfect illustration of why he is a compelling NFL Draft prospect. He showed that he can be a game-wrecker in key moments, even if his limitations against the run and overall play strength remain areas for development. While a full time, every-down role may be a reach, his elite speed, athleticism, and proven playmaking ability will earn him a valuable role as a situational pass rusher early in his NFL career.

Another big game for Justice Haynes

Justice Haynes has caught my eye in every game he’s played so far this season, and this weekend was no different. The Michigan back tore apart Nebraska’s defense to the tune of 149 yards and a touchdown, averaging 8.8 yards per attempt with over 80% of his yardage coming after contact.

That is now four games in a row where he has rushed for at least 100 yards and scored a touchdown.

There is a lot to like about Haynes from an NFL perspective. He has a pro-ready frame at 5’11” and 210 lbs, and he certainly doesn’t lack for juice. Haynes already has three runs of 50-plus yards this season, including a 75-yard touchdown run this week. His combination of short area quickness and open field speed makes him a really dangerous player, but he’s more than just a home-run hitter. I also thought he had some encouraging moments as a receiver and pass protector in this game, even if the box score numbers were underwhelming (three catches for 12 yards).

I always liked Haynes’ film during his time at Alabama. His issues there were more about opportunity than talent, and he is showing what he can do in a lead role now at Michigan. There are still times where you’d like to see him lower his shoulder and get north instead of bouncing runs, but it is hard to argue with his production so far.

As the son of a former NFL running back, Haynes won’t be the first of his family to be drafted, but if he can keep playing like this he should go much earlier than his father, who was a fifth-round pick for the Steelers in 2002.

JACK BRENTNALL

HEAD OF NFL DRAFT CONTENT

Previously the founder of The Jet Sweep, Jack joined The Touchdown as head of Draft Content in 2024. A Scouting Academy alumnus, Jack has been Covering the NFL Draft since 2020. Follow him on Twitter @Jack_Brentnall.

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