FernandoMendoza
Tall, battle-tested pocket passer with an accurate arm and unflappable demeanor.
Gamer
Got ThatDog in Him
InstinctualPlaymaking
Mendoza is a bit of a cliché-spitting eager beaver in interviews, but the clutch throws (and iconic runs) that the Heisman Trophy winner made while leading the Hoosiers to an undefeated season and national title demonstrate the exact type of big-play prowess and dogged determination NFL teams look for at quarterback. A transfer to Indiana in 2025 after two seasons at Cal, Mendoza has a tall, athletic build and throws with a nice blend of velocity and accuracy downfield. He passes with a whiplike, over-the-top release and shows the ability to layer passes over the middle of the field, lofting the ball over defenders and putting enough touch on it for his receiver. He throws a nice, tight spiral and delivers a catchable ball. His ball placement on out-breaking routes is precise, and the ball arrives where only his guy can get it. Mendoza can drop it in a bucket down the sideline and loves a back-shoulder throw to beat trailing coverage. He stands tall in the face of pressure and delivers the football. He flashes high-level processing ability, identifying where to go with the ball based on what he’s seeing pre- and post-snap. He protects the football. He’s not an explosive athlete, but he can pick up yards with his legs when given some green in front of him. He has a good amount of experience, with 35 starts over three seasons on his résumé, and he was at his best in big games and high-leverage moments.
Mendoza shows adequate arm strength when throwing with his feet set but does not have a cannon by NFL standards. He’s not always consistent with his accuracy; there are times when he leaves passes behind receivers, and he has a tendency to fall away from throws, leaving them short of the target. He operated in a shotgun- and RPO-heavy offense, so he will likely need to adjust to the pros. He’s not a statue, but he’s an average athlete who won’t make pass rushers miss in the pocket or juke a defender out in space too often.
Background
By Daniel Comer
A redshirt junior and former two-star recruit out of Miami. Spent the first three seasons of his college career at Cal (two as the backup, one as the starter) before transferring to Indiana this past season. He was named a consensus first-team All-American and the Heisman Trophy Award winner in 2025, and he led Indiana to its first national title in program history.
Fun Facts
- Originally committed to play college football at Yale before pivoting to Cal, where he earned a bachelor’s degree from the Haas School of Business.
- His father, Fernando Sr., played high school football with current Miami Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal.
- Coordinates Bible study for the Indiana football team.
- Considers Raiders minority owner Tom Brady his football idol.
- Here is a video of him getting lost on campus during his first day at Cal.
- And here is a letter his mother wrote him, published in The Players’ Tribune.
- In his Heisman Trophy ceremony, he dedicated the award to his mother. “This is your trophy as much as it is mine. You’ve always been my biggest fan. You’re my light. You’re my why. Your sacrifices, courage, love, those have been my first playbook.”
- On the day after Indiana’s national championship game win, Mendoza posted on LinkedIn, saying, “Here’s what winning a National Championship taught me about B2B sales 🏆(kidding … kinda).”