Fernando Mendoza enters his NFL career with plenty of hype. The Heisman Trophy-winning QB led Indiana to its best season in program history that culminated in a perfect 16-0 record and National Championship. It was something that college football fans across the country never thought they'd see, but Mendoza played a leading role in making it happen.
Mendoza was unsurprisingly selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 1 overall pick last month in the NFL Draft. As he continues to put in the work this spring, it's clear he is already making an impressive impression in Las Vegas. Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak is already singing Mendoza's praises, and his tune feels extremely familiar for Indiana football fans.
Klint Kubiak's comments on Fernando Mendoza are no surprise to Indiana fans
While he's been in Las Vegas for less than a month, Mendoza is already impressing Kubiak in a major way. The first year Raiders head coach has plenty of positive things to say about the No. 1 overall pick, and all his comments revolve around Mendoza being "as advertised."
"He has not disappointed. He's working his tail off. It's very important to him that he asks a lot of great questions when he gets on the field. He's no B.S.; he's all ball...Anything that you put in front of him, he's going to attack it. Anything new, he spends extra time on. You can tell he fixes things from one day to the next."Klint Kubiak
Kubiak's comments come as no surprise to Indiana football fans, as the Hoosier faithful are familiar with Mendoza's work ethic off the field. Mendoza's preparation and attention to detail helped him become Indiana's first Heisman Trophy winner in nearly 90 years. As impressive as Mendoza's game on the field is, his dedication and approach to the game off the field may be even more impressive.
Earlier this month, Mendoza missed out on Indiana's trip to the White House in order to continue training with his new team in Las Vegas. "I’m on the bottom of the totem pole here. I’ve got to prove myself,” Mendoza told the media earlier this offseason. “I can’t miss practice. I don’t have the calendar, but as a rookie, I don’t think that’s a good look. I want to try to best serve my teammates, and I don’t know if that’d be accomplishing that goal.”
Fernando Mendoza poised for strong rookie NFL season
On the field, Mendoza is known for his elite football IQ, pin-point accuracy, strong athleticism, and NFL-ready frame at 6'5" 230 pounds. Off the field, Mendoza possesses elite intangibles that include an extreme dedication to preparation. That combination made him a Hoosier legend, and make him one of the most well-rounded QB prospects in recent memory.
The Raiders are a franchise with a rich history, but they've fallen on tough times in recent years. Mendoza is looking to turn things around. Looking to prove he can be Las Vegas' franchise QB of the future, he knows he has a lot of work still ahead of him. But if anyone is up for the challenge, it's Mendoza.
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