NFL news: Fernando Mendoza - From no-name prospect to number-one draft pick
Fernando Mendoza’s selection as the No. 1 overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders didn’t happen overnight; he started as an unknown high school prospect and is now one of the brightest quarterbacks in the NFL.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer and NFL fan Luca Salmasi takes a closer look at how Fernando Mendoza became a star of college football and made his way to the NFL.
A tough start
In 2022, when Fernando Mendoza was a senior at Miami’s Christopher Columbus High, he ranked between 134th and 140th among high school quarterbacks, all with the same aim to start at one of the 138 FBS programs.
Despite attending 18 camps and reaching out to over 100 schools, Mendoza didn’t receive a single scholarship offer, including his local program at Florida International.
Mendoza eventually committed to Yale, but changed his plans when Cal made him an offer he simply couldn't turn down.
He was redshirted his freshman season, and his NFL Draft status didn’t exist, so he already sought a future away from football through internships with real estate investment firms.
National attention
In 2023, Mendoza became the starting quarterback for Cal, passing for 1,708 yards and 14 touchdowns in eight starts, he would follow that up with an even better year in 2024, passing for 3,004 yards and 16 touchdowns in 11 starts.
However, after the 2024 season, Mendoza would join the transfer portal in hopes of a move elsewhere and eventually transferred to the Indiana Hoosiers, where he would have his best season yet.
Mendoza would throw for 3,535 yards, for 41 touchdowns with his highest completion percentage so far of 72%, whilst leading the Hoosiers to a 13-0 regular season and a national championship, beating his hometown team, the Miami Hurricanes 27-21.
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Heisman success
Alongside his national championship win, Mendoza won the 2025 Heisman Trophy, the most prestigious award for a college athlete, becoming the first Hoosier to win the award after leading the team to an undefeated season.
The finalist class was very competitive with the likes of Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin and Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia.
Mendoza cruised to the trophy receiving 84.6% total possible points and finished first in all size Heisman regions.
Prior to winning the Heisman, he also won the Davey O’Brien award for the best quarterback of the 2025 season.
Character beyond football
Aside from his football career, Mendoza is the ideal example of what a modern athlete should be, with exceptional football talent as well as more notably an exceptional character.
Mendoza has been typically known for his incredible work ethic, often arriving early and working long and hard to consistently improve.
Mendoza is also closely connected to both his faith and his family, consistently giving glory to God and pointing heavenward as well as making a decision to skip the in-person NFL Draft to spend the moment at home with family.
His character is often cited as one of the major reasons why the Raiders selected him with the number-one pick with analysts believing that his character massively increased his draft stock.
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