Fernando Mendoza - QB, Indiana

On-Field Positives:

• Quick release

• Good ball placement

• Elevated throws

• Play action

• Does not miss layups.

• Moves well in the pocket.

• Runs in emergency situations.

• Tight window throwing.

• Can throw on the move.

• Wins big games against teams that have equal to or greater talent.

• Leadership

Off-Field Positives:

• Leadership

• Coaches and teammates describe his dedication to practice and film study as second to none.

• Highly coachable

• Accountability

• Takes the time to correct mistakes and improve his technique.

• Has the mindset of wanting to get better every day.

• He transferred to Indiana to play for Curt Cignetti. Cignetti is on a short list for top 5 coaches in college football right now.

Physical Traits:

• 6’5, 225lbs

• Arm strength

• Arm accuracy

Concerns:

• Slight tendency to retreat backwards.

• Not very fast, he moves just good enough. 

• He made a throw off his back foot against Oregon that became a pick 6. Back foot throws are now something to watch for to make sure that does not become a habit.

NFL Prediction

I think the transition to the NFL for Mendoza could be smoother in comparison to other QBs that will be drafted. He had a very realistic NFL like experience in his freshman and sophomore years at Cal, often playing teams that had more talent than his. Now at Indiana he is helping elevate a program that is not traditionally a football power into a powerful program. He has shown a steady growth in his stats from his freshman year to his sophomore year to now. Accuracy is something that translates from college to the NFL and he has not shown any struggles with maintaining a high level of accurate passing. I think it is likely he will declare for the draft this coming April and he’ll probably be one of the earlier selections. As long as he gets some support and good coaching, Mendoza looks like a franchise QB to me.