Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was already seen as a top NFL prospect before Monday’s College Football Playoff title game, but his game-clinching touchdown run on fourth down may have cemented his place atop the NFL Draft board.
Mendoza took a quarterback draw into the heart of the Miami Hurricanes defense on 4th down with just over nine minutes left in the game, bouncing off a tackle attempt and diving over the goal line. The score gave the Hoosiers a 24-14 lead and they would hang on to win 27-21.
The run earned praise for Mendoza amid predictions that he will be the first player off the board in this year’s draft.
Fernando Mendoza’s NFL Draft Buzz Growing
Mendoza had a strong, mistake-free performance in Modday’s win. He completed 16-of-27 passes for 186 yards and added the 12-yard touchdown run. Mendoza’s run caught the attention of many on social media, earning praise and some big draft predictions.
“FERNANDO MENDOZA IS THE NO. 1 PICK IN THE DRAFT,” wrote NFL content creator Dov Kleiman in a post on X. “WHAT A FREAKING PLAY THIS KID IS A SUPERSTAR”
Ian Cummings, an NFL Draft analyst with PFSN365, wrote that Mendoza’s touchdown run demonstrated his knack for meeting big moments.
“Eventually it just comes down to: How much do you want it?” Cummings wrote in a post on X. “Fernando Mendoza left it all on the field here. Big delivery in a massive moment.”
Some were more level-headed about Mendoza’s prospects. Lance Zierlein, an NFL.com analyst and one of the most respected talent evaluators, shared during the game that he still has reservations about Mendoza’s ability to feel pressure and get away from it.
“I’m giving Mendoza a pretty strong grade for my NFL.com draft profile but the one thing that bothers me is how heavy his shoes are when the pressure starts to mount in that pocket,” Zierlein wrote in a post on X. “Just doesn’t slide around the pocket nice and smooth and he struggles to escape once it leaks”
Las Vegas Raiders Predicted to Snag Fernando Mendoza
Mendoza is widely seen as the top prospect in this year’s draft, with most mock drafts sending him to the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 1 overall. USA Today’s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz wrote that Mendoza has separated himself from the pack so much that there is no real competition for the top pick.
“A few weeks ago, he seemed to be the clear-cut front-runner to be the No. 1 pick. At this point, it seems safe to say the rest of the race can be called off,” Middlehurst-Schwartz wrote. “Three months out from the first round kicking off, Mendoza is basically without competition for the top spot. The Raiders might not tip their hand and could even consider any exploratory talks other teams might have about obtaining the selection. But it seems unfathomable that Tom Brady and the rest of the Silver and Black brass would bypass such a sound signal-caller who checks off almost every box when it comes to operating within structure.”
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza Gets Big NFL Draft Update After Miami Win