Fernando Mendoza doesn’t hold back on what he thinks about getting drafted and playing for the Las Vegas Raiders
The Heisman Trophy winner had his goals clear when he transferred to Indiana - to play in the NFL. He’ll have a shot at that dream coming true in April.
When Fernando Mendoza transferred from California to play for the Indiana Hoosiers, he had one goal in mind, and that was to eventually play as a quarterback in the NFL. And he made that dream a reality thanks to a fairy tale season with the Hoosiers that saw him take them to the national championship and win the Heisman Trophy.
Next week, he’ll head to the NFL Combine. Though he’ll be in attendance, he’s not expected to participate and will save his focus for Indy’s Pro Day. When you’re the Heisman winner, you can definitely do that. He’s already proven himself.
A Heisman winner and National Champion.
— NFL (@NFL) February 13, 2026
All eyes are on Fernando Mendoza this year 👀
2026 NFL Combine starts Feb. 26 on @nflnetwork
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Mendoza’s thoughts on joining the Raiders
In his one and only season with the Hoosiers, Mendoza threw for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns to just six interceptions. That’s more yards and touchdowns than he logged in two seasons at Cal. But now he has his sights set on the big league.
“The goal of transferring to Indiana was to make the NFL,” Mendoza said. “It wasn’t to be a great college player. It was to try to develop into being an NFL quarterback one day.”
Mendoza is widely expected to be the top quarterback selected in the upcoming NFL Draft on April 23. And it’s the Las Vegas Raiders, in need of an answer at the position, who have the first pick in the draft. If selected first overall by the Raiders, Mendoza said he’d embrace the opportunity.
“I’d be blessed and honored to play for the Raiders, or I’d be blessed to play for any team,” he said. “Any NFL team that drafts me, I’d be ecstatic. I know at the draft, I’ll probably shed a tear or two just because it’s such a full-circle moment for me.”
Raiders have requested to speak with Vikings assistant offensive coordinator Jordan Traylor to be their QB coach, a job with the potential to work with expected No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. Traylor, 33, has worked with Kevin O’Connell, Sean Payton and Klint Kubiak, the…
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 18, 2026
Mendoza has been preparing for this moment for a while now, knowing that everything he did over the last year was leading up to it. To even have the chance to play in the NFL is something he is clearly grateful for, but he also understands that the journey doesn’t end here, and that the NFL will be a whole new challenge.
“College is great, but that part’s behind me,” Mendoza said. “I feel like I’ve been satisfied with my college career. However, now I’m on to the NFL career. It requires a new skill set. It’s a grown man’s league.”
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