As the 2026 NFL Draft cycle heats up, several premier prospects are making controversial decisions — Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, the projected No. 1 overall pick, has elected not to throw at the NFL Scouting Combine, choosing instead to showcase his arm at Indiana’s Pro Day with his familiar receivers, a move designed to help his teammates and preserve his own elite draft stock.
At the same time, Miami EDGE Reuben Bain Jr. — one of college football’s top defenders and an early first-round candidate — will not participate in the 2026 Senior Bowl, removing a high-profile opportunity to impress scouts in front of NFL personnel during all-star action in Mobile.
Off the field, Virginia QB Chandler Morris has taken a different kind of step — suing the NCAA in Virginia court as he seeks a seventh season of college eligibility after the NCAA denied his waiver and appeal, citing injury and mental-health arguments as part of his case.
Together, these storylines underscore how the pre-draft period has evolved beyond simple on-field measurables, blending strategic work-out decisions with legal battles and draft-stock gambles.
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