Former Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is already fully locked in at his new home in Las Vegas.
And for that reason the No. 1 overall NFL Draft choice doesn’t anticipate accompanying the IU football team on their visit to the White House to celebrate the 2025 national championship.
Mendoza was asked Saturday following day two of Raider rookie mini-camp if he was going to Washington D.C. with the IU players and coaches on May 11.
“I believe May 11 is the first day of OTAs, if I’m not mistaken,” Mendoza told the assembled media. “If it is on the first day of OTAs, I’m at the bottom of the totem pole here. I gotta prove myself. I can’t miss practice.”
May 11 is not the first day of OTAs (organized team activities). According to the Raiders website, those don’t begin until May 18.
In fact, surveying the May calendars across the NFL, May 11 looks like an open date for most teams. So the eight drafted Hoosiers from the 2025 national championship team, along with several other players who signed free agent deals, might be able to make it to the White House for the 4 p.m. ET ceremony.
But don’t be surprised if Mendoza sticks to his plan once he sorts out his calendar for next week.
“As a rookie, I don’t think that’s a good look (leaving the team),” Mendoza continued. “I want to try to best serve my teammates, and I don’t know if I’d be accomplishing that goal.”
IU coach Curt Cignetti will no doubt be in Washington.
And he probably won’t be surprised if Mendoza decides to not go.
It’s the same legendary mindset that helped Mendoza lead IU to a 16-0 season and the national title.
And that’s something Cignetti saw every day last season.
“I’ve never been around a player anywhere I’ve ever been that prepares like him,” Cignetti said in October.
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