Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, announced on Friday that he intends to enter the 2026 NFL Draft.
Mendoza, a 22-year-old redshirt junior, led the Hoosiers to an undefeated season and was the runaway winner of the Heisman in his first and only year in Bloomington, helping deliver multiple thrilling late-game victories along the way. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds by Indiana, the QB threw for 3,535 yards, 41 TDs and six interceptions on 72% completions and ran for 276 yards and seven more scores in 16 games.
Mendoza was battered around in the national-title game against Miami, taking three sacks and several more hits, but he impressed with his toughness and fourth-quarter execution, with several big conversions and the capstone play of his career -- a 12-yard QB draw on fourth down for a touchdown. The QB-needy Las Vegas Raiders hold the first overall pick in this year's draft and sent a contingent of decision-makers, including owner Mark Davis, GM John Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady, to the title game.
Prior to Indiana, Mendoza was a lightly recruited high-school quarterback out of the Miami area, committing to Yale before switching his commitment to Cal. He redshirted in 2022 and played the following two seasons for the Golden Bears, throwing for 4,712 yards, 30 TDs and 16 INTs and rushing for four more scores.
Some NFL evaluators wondered throughout the season whether Mendoza possessed NFL-star potential, but he consistently answered the bell with precision throws in tight windows, mostly excellent decision making and underrated toughness. Winning 16 straight starts certainly didn't hurt his reputation.
Arm strength might never be his superpower, but Mendoza can deliver sharp throws on a line, especially when attacking the field horizontally, and can deftly layer vertical shots over defenders. He has a quick, tidy release and throws a catchable ball more often than not with a three-quarters delivery. Mendoza also might not be considered an elite athlete, but for a well-built quarterback he moves well in the pocket, can scramble out of trouble and even has utility as a designed runner.
Mendoza also won over his new teammates in 2025 with his upbeat personality and positive outlook and was a hit during the Heisman media circuit with his inspiring victory speech. All indications are he possesses the intangibles to win over an NFL locker room in time and has the mental makeup to handle a complex offense that requires a quick processor at the trigger.
