Fernando Mendoza
Las Vegas RaidersOur College Grade
How good he was in college at what his position is supposed to do, out of 100. Scored against everyone else at his position, adjusted for the level he played at. This is not his NFL grade.
College Production
California · Pac-12
| Season | G | Att | Cmp | Yds | TD | INT | Pos Rk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 9 | 250 | 147 | 1,628 | 12 | 5 | 110 |
| 2024 | 10 | 374 | 236 | 2,554 | 10 | 2 | 17 |
| 2025 | 16 | 398 | 281 | 3,760 | 40 | 7 | 5 |
The seasons in our college data. It does not always reach back to a player's first year.
Scouting Report
Indiana · 2026 draft class
Fernando Mendoza is one of the safest quarterback prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft and a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender who has transformed from a Cal castoff into a potential number one overall pick at Indiana. At 6'5", 225 pounds, Mendoza brings a pro-ready frame with efficient mechanics and high-level touch that projects immediately to the NFL. After transferring from California where he played behind a brutal offensive line for three years, Mendoza joined Curt Cignetti's program at Indiana and emerged as one of college football's most efficient passers. At Cal in 2024, he threw for 3,004 yards while completing 68.7% of his passes, posting 270+ passing yards in 8 of his final 9 games despite constant pressure. His 83.2% adjusted completion percentage through four games at Indiana was the highest mark in college football. Mendoza shows extreme patience in the pocket with toughness and poise, willing to deliver strikes with defenders bearing down. His excellent accuracy and ball placement on short-to-intermediate throws stands out-he knows where to miss when throwing into tight windows. Mendoza is a quick decision-maker with elite ability to read defenses and pick up the blitz. His quick release excels at RPOs and timing routes, and he refuses to crawl into his shell under pressure. While he lacks elite off-script athleticism, his field command and operational maturity make him the highest-floor quarterback in this class.
Strengths
- Great size at 6'5" 225 lbs with NFL-caliber arm and pro-ready frame
- Quick decision-maker who processes at NFL speed
- Knows where to miss when throwing into tight windows
- Willing to deliver strikes under heavy pressure with elite poise
- Consistently plus ball placement on short-to-intermediate throws
- Elite at reading defenses and picking up blitzes pre-snap
- Quick release for RPOs and timing routes
- High floor with proven ability to play behind porous offensive line
- 83.2% adjusted completion rate was highest in college football
Concerns
- Not an evasive athlete who can extend plays with legs
- Propensity to drift in pocket and create his own pressure (26 charged pressures in 2024)
- Struggles against simulated pressure and identifying free rushers
- Deep ball accuracy forces receivers to adjust too often even from clean pocket
- Can get reckless out of structure with arm arrogance leading to turnover-worthy plays (17 TWPs in 2024)
- Limited elite athleticism compared to top QB prospects
- Success came in relatively simple scheme raising NFL projection questions
- Eye manipulation needs development to hold and move defenders
Honors
Heisman Trophy finalist (2025); Top 5 draft projection; Led Indiana to historic undefeated start; Cal to Indiana transfer success story