Fernando Mendoza
Born October 1, 2003 in Miami, Florida. Of Cuban descent — all four grandparents
emigrated from Cuba to Miami in 1959 after the Cuban Revolution. Outspokenly Catholic, attends
daily Mass on game days. Younger brother Alberto backed him up at Indiana before transferring
to Georgia Tech.
HIGH SCHOOL: Started at Miami Columbus HS in south Florida. Went 6-0 as a 2020 starter. Wanted
to play at Miami but never received a scholarship offer from the Hurricanes — a slight that
would later fuel him. 247Sports composite ranked him just the 134th QB in the 2022 recruiting
class, a massive outlier relative to his current draft valuation.
COLLEGE: Three years at California (2022-24). Earned ACC QB of the Week in back-to-back games
vs Oregon State and Wake Forest as a junior, with his 56 attempts vs Wake Forest being the
most by a Cal QB since 2016. Entered the transfer portal December 23, 2024 and enrolled at
Indiana. His 2025 season: 3,535 passing yards, 41 TDs, 6 INTs — won the 2025 Heisman Trophy
and led Indiana to its first National Championship, beating Miami (FL) in the title game.
DRAFT PROJECTION: Round 1, picks 1-5. The Raiders at #1 overall and Browns at #6 both have
him high. If the Raiders pass, Cleveland is the most logical trade-up target. Pro comp:
Baker Mayfield with more size, Matt Stafford accuracy. Key question: is his late-2025 tape
sustainable or scheme-aided?
Scouting Profile
Combine / Pro Day Measurables (reported)
| 40-yard dash | 4.79 |
| Vertical jump (in) | 30.5 |
| Broad jump | 9'6" |
| Bench press (225 reps) | N/A |
| 3-cone drill | 7.04 |
| 20-yard shuttle | 4.31 |
| Wingspan | 77.0" |
| Hand size | 9 3/4" |
Numbers compiled from NFL Scouting Combine results, Pro Day box scores, and beat-writer reports. "Reported" means cross-referenced against multiple sources; verify on nfl.com/combine for definitive marks.
College Career Stats
- 2022 Cal (Fr): 8 starts, 1,672 yds, 11 TD, 6 INT, 60.2%
- 2023 Cal (So): 12 starts, 3,004 yds, 17 TD, 6 INT, 64.5% — ACC QB of Week vs Wake Forest
- 2024 Cal (Jr): 12 starts, 3,072 yds, 16 TD, 6 INT, 65.0%
- 2025 Indiana (Sr): 14 starts, 3,535 yds, 41 TD, 6 INT, 67.4% — Heisman + CFP National Championship
Strengths
- Quick release with NFL-grade ball placement on intermediate windows
- Pocket movement evades pressure while keeping eyes downfield
- Pre-snap processor reads coverage shells and adjusts protections
- Tough competitor — extends plays with calculated second-effort scrambles
- Velocity drives deep outs and field-stretchers on a line
Weaknesses / Areas to Develop
- Mechanics drift on long-developing plays — base widens under pressure
- Takes hits in the pocket; durability across a 17-game NFL season is unproven
- Touch on red-zone fades is inconsistent
- Three-star high school recruit — late-bloom profile is unusual at QB1
NFL Pro Comparison
Matt Stafford with better mobility — strong-armed pocket passer with creative escape ability and clutch fourth-quarter playmaking
Outcome Range
- Floor: Solid NFL starter for 8-10 years; never quite All-Pro level
- Median: Top-10 QB league-wide; one playoff run as a #1 seed
- Ceiling: MVP-caliber franchise QB; multiple All-Pros and a Super Bowl run
Scheme Fit
Spread offense with RPO + play-action bootleg; ideal for a Sean McVay / Kyle Shanahan tree where mobility maximizes deep-shot windows
Pre-Draft Visits
Top-30 visits reported with the Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns, and New York Jets per draft beat reporters
Signature College Game
2026 CFP National Championship vs Miami: 28/38, 385 yards, 4 TDs, game-winning drive — closed his college career with a Heisman + national title
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