Fernando Mendoza‘s college career is complete, and the Indiana quarterback is now firmly in NFL mode after closing his final season with a national championship.
With the Heisman Trophy already secured and his draft stock at its peak, Mendoza’s attention has shifted entirely to the next step, even as a misleading social media rumour briefly stirred confusion this week.
The defining image of that season came on Monday night in the national title game. Facing a pivotal fourth down with less than ten minutes remaining, Mendoza absorbed multiple heavy hits, kept his balance, and launched himself into the end zone for a 12-yard rushing touchdown. The play embodied the toughness that has come to define his rise.
“I had to go airborne. I’d die for my team. Whatever they need me to do,” Mendoza said. “They need me to take shots in the front or the back, whatever it is, I’m gonna die for my team out there and I know they’re going to do the same for me. That’s what makes us so close. That’s what makes the national championship so special.”
That mentality has resonated strongly with NFL decision makers. The Las Vegas Raiders, who currently hold the first overall pick, are widely projected to target Mendoza, and many analysts believe he would step into the league as a day one leader.
Combine rumour briefly clouds the conversation
As Mendoza begins the draft process, his next major checkpoint is the NFL Scouting Combine, which opens on February 23.
The combine is expected to offer teams a closer look at his athletic profile, medical status, and leadership qualities through interviews and on-field testing.
That plan was momentarily called into question on Tuesday when a social media post claimed Mendoza intended to skip the combine to attend a finance internship in New York.
The message, shared by an account using the name Scott Hughes, suggested the quarterback had told ESPN he would prioritise Wall Street over draft evaluations.
The post spread quickly, racking up hundreds of thousands of views and sparking debate among fans. The claim, however, was not real. The account responsible is a parody profile, and there has been no confirmation from Mendoza or his representatives supporting the story. Within hours, the rumour was widely dismissed.
With that distraction cleared, the focus has returned to what Mendoza has already shown on the field. All 32 NFL teams are expected to study him closely in the coming weeks, but the broader picture has not changed. He remains the consensus top quarterback prospect and a likely first overall selection.
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