Shocking: Fernando Mendoza didn’t know the mic was still on when he made a strong statement admitting to….

‘Gamer’ – Fernando Mendoza Sets Early Hoosier Quarterback Tone – Indiana University Athletics

‘Gamer’ – Fernando Mendoza Sets Early Hoosier Quarterback Tone

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Quarterback Fernando Mendoza throws into the wind and into the heart of Indiana’s spring football defense. A tough catch is made and then another on the Hoosiers’ practice field.

 

Possibilities are obvious.

 

Many passes are completed, but not all, some because of the defense, some from inaccuracy, some from drops. It’s still early in spring practice and Mendoza works out the kinks with his teammates while learning a new offense, an explosive offense, an offense that savaged defenses throughout the Big Ten in the debut season of head coach Curt Cignetti and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan.

 

Last year, IU led the Big Ten in scoring at 41.3 points behind quarterback Kurtis Rourke. Now, Mendoza is set to run the offensive show after transferring from the University of California. It’s his fourth offensive coordinator in four college seasons. Is that a problem? Not for Mendoza. He says he’s used to the process, which should aid the transition.

 

“Football is the same whatever you run,” he says. “It’s similar concepts. What’s different is the terminology, the intricacies of the offense, the eye patterns through the progressions, and then timing up the new footwork because it’s new for me. There are a lot of variables to it.

 

“I feel I’m picking it up. I’m having more success, not just as result-based but also process-based, dealing with protection, dealing with the mechanics of the play. It’s been an adjustment and a great challenge, but it’s something I’m used to.”

 

IU’s offense thrives on balance, on versatility, on the ability to exploit defensive weakness. Last season, the Hoosiers rushed for 2,146 yards and 37 touchdowns; they threw for 3,397 yards and 33 TDs with just six interceptions.

 

Mendoza says he was drawn to the offense’s simplicity and complexity.

 

“There are so many shifts, motions, different RPOs (run-pass option) and everything that we run. It is very concept based, as far as you learn the concepts, but there are so many different ways we can dress things up. In reality, when you learn the concepts, you learn the ins and outs and the little intricacies of each play, you are able to master it at a high level.”

 

Spring practice gives Mendoza the reps he needs to reach that “mastery level.” He got an early jump on learning the playbook because younger brother, Alberto, was on the IU roster and had the playbook at home over semester break when the older Mendoza committed.

 

“I started to dive into the playbook before I arrived on campus. Ever since, I have tried to be consistent in the film room and the playbook in order to gain a mastery by the end of spring.”

 

That should help Mendoza answer whatever on-field questions come his way as IU seeks to match, if not surpass, last season’s breakthrough 11-2 record.

 

“I feel like I am getting better every practice,” he says. “I’m excited about my development.”

 

BLOOMINGTON, IN – March 29, 2025 – quarterback Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers during practice at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, IN. Photo By Dani Meersman/Indiana Athletics

For Mendoza, who grew up in Florida, spent his first three college years in California and never saw snow until arriving in Bloomington, “Different is good. Change is good.”

 

The includes a quarterback room that returns only Alberto Mendoza.

 

“It’s a great challenge for everyone,” Fernando says. “We’re all stepping up to the plate.”

 

Mendoza excels through preparation. It helped him rank 10th in the nation last year by averaging 273.1 passing yards per game despite his 45 sacks, which were the second-most in the nation. Still, in two seasons with Cal, he threw for 4,712 yards and 30 touchdowns, which made him the third-rated quarterback in the transfer portal and a major success for IU.

 

“That preparation builds confidence,” he says. “When you’re in the film room all day, the entire week before a game, the week before practice, a day or two before the walkthrough, whenever it is, when you’re prepared and know it like the back of your hand, you don’t second-guess yourself. You have full confidence. Then you don’t have to think about it on the field. You don’t want to over-analyze it — what’s this play again? What’s my read again? When you have that total confidence, you’re able to play free. That’s how the best quarterbacks play.”

 

Mendoza seeks to be the best version of himself and has impressed his teammates in doing so.

 

Take cornerback D’Angelo Ponds, who faces Mendoza every day in practice.

 

“The thing that has stuck out to me is how mobile he is and his deep ball accuracy,” Ponds says. “He has a strong arm; I could see it when he was throwing at Pro Day. Once he came out and threw against us, I could see how strong his arm was.”

 

So could veteran receiver Elijah Sarratt, who figures to be a top target next season.

 

“First impression: he loves the game of football,” Sarratt says. “Even throwing 7-on-7 routes, he is throwing passes and yelling at us, ‘good job’ and ‘great catch.’ He flips the switch a little bit when he is on the field. I love seeing that.”

 

The switch was on during IU’s Pro Day, when NFL scouts came to evaluate Hoosier draft prospects. Mendoza showed up to throw to former Indiana receivers such as Myles Price and Ke’Shawn Williams.

 

“He was spinning it,” Sarratt says. “It’s all a process and it is not going to happen in one day. We are just building reps.”“I see gamers. That’s a great compliment you can give someone – that they’re gamers. They know how to get the job done, no matter the circumstances.”

 

BLOOMINGTON, IN – March 27, 2025 – quarterback Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers during practice at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, IN. Photo By Luke Miller/Indiana Athletics

Mendoza says Cignetti’s reputation for developing quarterbacks — last year Rourke threw for 3,029 yards and 29 touchdowns in his one Hoosier season after transferring from Ohio University — and producing winning teams were big draws. Cignetti has never had a losing record in 14 head coaching seasons.

 

“I saw many of his press conferences,” Mendoza says. “I heard about him through Alberto. He’s a phenomenal coach and guy. He holds you to an extremely high standard. That’s a main reason I came here. He has an offensive mind. His program always wins. He brings two things I wanted — be held to a high standard, and win. I’m grateful to have him as a great coach.”

 

Cignetti says Hoosier coaches “are very high” on Mendoza and that the main spring practice priorities are “getting the ball out of his hand on rhythm” and making sure he’s “playing more than thinking.”

 

Alberto Mendoza might have been the biggest factor in getting his brother to IU. The younger Mendoza had originally committed to James Madison but switched to IU when Cignetti left to take over the Hoosier program.

 

Fernando Mendoza says never thought he’d play with his brother, but that changed once he entered the transfer portal.

 

“Alberto was a pushing edge when he gave the me the (go ahead) to come to IU. I didn’t think our paths would cross to play together. I’m grateful for this opportunity. It’s been an incredible journey.”

 

Gratefulness comes with this reality — barring something unforeseen, Fernando is the starter, Alberto is a backup aiding in the adjustment.

 

“My brother has been a tremendous resource,” the older Mendoza says. “We are in practice, and he is out there dicing the defense up. He’s just a fantastic player. I am able to lean on him on certain plays, how the play moves, throughout the plays and after plays he’s able to give me tips – just little keys that you would get from experience in an offense.”

 

Brotherly competition doesn’t hinder preparation. In a lot of ways, it facilitates it.

 

“We do everything together,” Fernando says. “We watch film together. We get better together. We have tough times together. It’s been great. He’s been a steppingstone to me learning the offense. I can’t thank him enough.”

 

Cignetti says he’s never had brothers play the same position on a team before.

 

“I know the young one will push the old one as hard as he can. (Alberto has) got a good future. They are two great kids.”“I see gamers. That’s a great compliment you can give someone – that they’re gamers. They know how to get the job done, no matter the circumstances.”

 

BLOOMINGTON, IN – April 01, 2025 – quarterback Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers during spring practice #6 for the Indiana Hoosiers at John Mellencamp Pavilion in Bloomington, IN. Photo By Kaitlyn Grifonetti/Indiana Athletics

Quarterback, more than any other position, demands elite leadership. Mendoza excelled at that at Cal, especially the last two seasons when he was team captain. There, he had time to grow into that role. He won’t with the Hoosiers.

 

“Here, I’m expected to be the guy from Day One,” he says. “It’s a challenge I accepted. I enjoy all the guys, everybody on offense, defense, the specialists. It’s exciting to keep learning and improving those relationships and putting them on the field to have offensive success.”

 

Mendoza says playing quarterback starts by, “Leading your teammates.”

 

“The quarterbacks and the line set the tone of the offense.”

 

Mendoza will benefit from a strong group of receivers. Sarratt led the way last season with 53 catches for 957 yards and eight touchdowns. Omar Cooper Jr. had a team-leading 21.2-yards-per-catch average. E.J. Williams Jr. returns as a Hoosier after entering the transfer portal.

 

From the transfer portal IU brought in Makai Jackson (seven career 100-yard receiving games) from Appalachian State and Tyler Morris (34 games and 14 starts) from Michigan. The Hoosiers also have promising freshmen such as four-star prospect Lebron Bond from Virginia and three-star Myles Kendrick from Florida.

 

“We have a phenomenal group of receives,” Mendoza says. “It’s one of the main reasons why I came to Indiana.

 

“It’s been a great experience throwing to them. They’re fast and really good. It’s been an adjustment to get used to them, build chemistry with them and see how they get out of their breaks. They get out extremely fast.

 

“They’re like pros. All those guys are future NFL receivers. It has pushed me. I hope to be a point guard and get them the ball. That’s my job.”

 

As far as the 45 sacks he had last season, Mendoza took just as much responsibility for them as the Cal offensive line while praising IU’s offensive line.

 

“Sacks are both a quarterback and offensive line stat,” he says. “I do take responsibility on that at my previous stop.

 

“However, having all these amazing offensive linemen with Pat, Bray, Carter, Zen, Demola, Austin, everyone. I could go on and on about all of those guys. They are all phenomenal players. I have a ton of time to throw during practice. Quite honestly, it is a little more time than I am used to. It has been great. I have had great offensive lines in the past, and I am blessed to have an amazing offensive line this year.”

 

Pat Coogan, a Notre Dame transfer, met Mendoza during his official visit. He says he sees similarities between Mendoza and Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard, a dual-threat player who helped lead the Irish to the national title game.

 

“I see gamers. That’s a great compliment you can give someone – that they’re gamers. They know how to get the job done, no matter the circumstances.”