The 2026 NFL Draft could be one of the best ever for IU football.
And the headliner is projected to be someone who has yet to play a snap for the Hoosiers.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza has appeared as a first round draft pick in multiple mock 2026 NFL Drafts released following the conclusion of the 2025 draft.
Here are four that have projected the redshirt junior as one of the top quarterbacks in next year’s cycle.
- No. 4 — Nate Tice, Yahoo!
- No. 10 — J.P. Acosta, SB Nation
- No. 16 — Bryan Fischer, Sports Illustrated
- No. 27 — Dane Brugler, The Athletic
At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Mendoza has the physical traits of an NFL quarterback, and his mobility and arm strength give him the coveted attributes of a modern pro.
Arch Manning (Texas), Drew Allar (Penn State), Grant Nussmeier (LSU), LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina) and Cade Klubnik (Clemson) are some of the other top quarterbacks in the class.
IU coach Curt Cignetti has cautioned that his transfer quarterbacks tend to struggle during the spring, but he liked how Mendoza rounded into form.
“I thought he had a really good last week,” Cignetti said after the spring game on April 17. “I thought his last three practices, one of which was a scrimmage, he made major strides. It really started to click. I felt really good before the scrimmage where we were there with him.”
While leading Cal to a 6-6 season in 2024, the 6-foot-5 and 225-pound Mendoza was 265-of-386 (68.7%) passing for 3,004 yards, with 16 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He rushed for 105 yards and two scores.
Mendoza has two seasons of eligibility remaining, but if his draft projections hold he’ll only be in Bloomington for one year.
Mendoza isn’t the only Hoosier with early round projections in 2026.
Cornerback D’Angelo Ponds and edge rusher Mikail Kamara are considered either first or second round picks by multiple outlets, and wide receiver Elijah Sarratt is on some draft boards as well.
And there are plenty of other players who could play their way into next year’s draft. Defensive tackle C.J. West was not on the draft radar at this time last year and played his way into the fourth round.
Indiana has not had four or more players selected in an NFL Draft since 1988. No Hoosier has gone in the first round since wide receiver Thomas Lewis in 1994.
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