When most quarterbacks join a new college program, they’ll start learning the playbook when they get to campus, or after an early meeting with the coaching staff.
Fernando Mendoza had a head start. His younger brother, Alberto, was already a freshman in the Indiana football program. Alberto already knew the IU offense. So when Fernando committed to the Hoosiers in December, that gave him some extra time to get a jump on the playbook.
“Having that playbook at home already — because Alberto was at my house when I committed, at my parents’ house — I definitely, in Christmas break, in the off time, I started diving into the playbook before I arrived on campus,” Fernando said on Thursday. “And ever since, been trying to be consistent in the film room, in the playbook, in order to gain a mastery by the end of the spring.”
Mendoza transferred to Bloomington from Cal this offseason. That decision happened partially because of Indiana’s success in 2024 and its coaching staff that impressed the redshirt junior.
But playing with his brother was undeniably appealing.
“My brother and I, we do everything together. We watch film together, we get better together, we have tough times together. So it’s been great, and he’s been a stepping stone to me learning the offense, and my early steps here in spring ball. I can’t thank him enough,” Mendoza said. “He was definitely a pushing edge, and when he gave me the good and ‘Hey, let’s come to IU,’ it was even a more of a push to come to IU. So I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given.”
It’s not a common situation to have two bothers share a quarterback room for the same college team. Head coach Curt Cignetti said he’s never had that before on one of his teams. Fernando said he didn’t picture his path crossing with his brother’s when Alberto committed to James Madison with Cignetti, and he’s grateful for the opportunity to be teammates.
Fernando is coming off a strong year at Cal, finishing 10th in the nation and third in the ACC with 273.1 passing yards per game, and he posted a 16:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He’s impressed teammates already.
“He’s a 1, so I go against him every day. The thing that’s stuck out to me is how mobile he is, and his deep-ball accuracy,” defensive back D’Angelo Ponds said on Thursday. “He’s got a strong arm. I could see it when he was throwing at pro day, and once he came out there and threw against us, I could see he’s got a strong arm.”
Mendoza has also come in and established himself as a leader immediately.
He quickly worked to start building relationships with his offensive teammates when he arrived in Bloomington. Wide receiver Elijah Sarratt said he got dinner with Mendoza when he was visiting campus while working through his decision — Sarratt made recruiting pitches to the quarterback, while Mendoza asked the receiver whether he was going to stay at IU or go to the NFL Draft. That helped begin forging the relationship between a duo that will be key for Indiana’s offense next season.
But it’s gone beyond just Sarratt. Offensive lineman Pat Coogan said Mendoza was very present during his recruitment out of the transfer portal from Notre Dame.
“He was like the first guy I met when I took my official visit here. He came to all the lunches with us. He was blowing up my phone. He’s been great,” Coogan said on Thursday. “I honestly see a ton of similarities between (he and Riley Leonard). I just see gamers. I think that’s a great compliment you can give someone, and it’s just, they’re gamers. They know how to get the job done, no matter the circumstances. And can’t wait to keep on growing our relationship and just keep playing ball.”
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