Fernando Mendoza's rise from 3-star recruit to No. 1 NFL draft pick

TL;DR

Fernando Mendoza, initially a 3-star recruit, became the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after leading Indiana to its first national championship and winning the Heisman Trophy.

Key points

Fernando Mendoza was a 3-star recruit.
He led Indiana to its first national championship.
Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy.
He was selected No. 1 in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Las Vegas Raiders drafted him.

Fernando MendozaLas Vegas Raiders2026 NFL DraftHeisman Trophy

Fernando Mendoza's rise from 3-star recruit to No. 1 NFL draft pick

Looking back at the 2022 recruiting class, Fernando Mendoza's name was nowhere near the top of the cycle's top recruits.

In fact, Mendoza was not even ranked as one of the cycle's top 100 quarterback prospects according to 247Sports.

Four years later and none of that matters now. Mendoza led Indiana to its first national championship, was named the program's first Heisman Trophy winner, and on Thursday, the Las Vegas Raiders selected him with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

So just who is Mendoza? Where did his rise to the start come from?

To get those answers, you have to look back at his high school days where Mendoza first got his start at Miami Columbus.

Mendoza's quiet run to starter

Playing for one of the state's top high school programs, Mendoza earned his first true varsity starts as a sophomore for the Explorers in 2019.

As a backup, Mendoza appeared in the final five games of Columbus' season playing behind starter Brandon McDuffey. He showed potential in those five appearances, completing 77% of his passes for 227 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions.

The next year, Mendoza was named as Columbus' starter and did not disappoint. While COVID limited their season to only nine games, the Explorers finished the year 9-0. Mendoza threw for 1,086 yards and 13 touchdowns with only four interceptions.

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After his junior season, Mendoza started to pick up offers, albeit from smaller schools. From January to March, he received offers from Penn, Lehigh, and Yale, eventually committing to Yale on August 4, 2021.

The following season, Mendoza completed his high school career, leading Columbus to a 9-4 record. His senior season numbers were comparable to his junior season, as he completed 63% of his passes for 1,169 yards and 11 touchdowns, with 4 interceptions.

During that season, no Power Four programs extended an offer to Mendoza, so he remained committed to Yale. That changed in January of the following year, when he picked up an offer from California on January 28, 2022.

Q&A

How did Fernando Mendoza go from a 3-star recruit to the No. 1 NFL draft pick?

Fernando Mendoza's journey included leading Indiana to a national championship and winning the Heisman Trophy, which significantly raised his profile.

What achievements did Fernando Mendoza accomplish in college football?

Mendoza led Indiana to its first national championship and became the program's first Heisman Trophy winner.

Which team selected Fernando Mendoza in the 2026 NFL Draft?

The Las Vegas Raiders selected Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

What was Fernando Mendoza's ranking as a quarterback prospect before college?

Before college, Fernando Mendoza was not ranked among the top 100 quarterback prospects according to 247Sports.