Cal switch Fernando Mendoza — one of the coveted quarterbacks remaining within the portal — dedicated to Indiana on Tuesday, in line with a number of experiences. It’s the second consecutive offseason that the Hoosiers have landed one of the productive and skilled quarterbacks available on the market.
Mendoza is No. 4 in The Athletic’s switch quarterback rankings.
Indiana simply posted an 11-2 report and reached the Faculty Soccer Playoff in coach Curt Cignetti’s first season. It did so with Kurtis Rourke, an Ohio switch, on the helm. Rourke simply exhausted his eligibility, and backup Tayven Jackson, who began the Hoosiers’ 31-17 win over Washington, entered the switch portal over the weekend.
That left Indiana in want of a starting-caliber quarterback. Insert Mendoza, who handed for 3,004 yards as a sophomore in 2024 regardless of lacking the ultimate two video games with an damage. He grew to become the Golden Bears’ starter a month into his redshirt freshman season and threw for 1,708 yards in eight begins in 2023. He has some dashing skill, with a season-high 51 yards in opposition to Wake Forest this season, however is thought to be extra of a pocket passer.
Mendoza, listed at 6-foot-5, was a two-star prospect within the 2022 class out of Miami, ranked No. 140 amongst quarterbacks within the 247Sports Composite. He initially dedicated to Yale earlier than being supplied by Cal, which ended up getting a steal. Mendoza’s efficiency over the previous two years made him one of many hottest names on the switch market, with Georgia additionally being closely concerned on this recruitment.
Mendoza’s youthful brother, Alberto, was a freshman quarterback at Indiana this season. The Hoosiers simply employed Atlanta Falcons passing recreation specialist Chandler Whitmer as their new quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator, and the NFL expertise was probably a promoting level whereas Indiana pursued Mendoza.
(Picture: Eakin Howard / Getty Photos)
