Top transfer portal quarterback opts for surprising destination over several elite programs
A couple of weeks ago, former Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. That came after Mendoza just put together a tremendous season for the Golden Bears, throwing for 3,004 yards and 16 touchdowns. Mendoza also added another two scores on the ground, while completing nearly 69 percent of his passes and throwing […]
A couple of weeks ago, former Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. That came after Mendoza just put together a tremendous season for the Golden Bears, throwing for 3,004 yards and 16 touchdowns. Mendoza also added another two scores on the ground, while completing nearly 69 percent of his passes and throwing just six interceptions.
Some outlets viewed Mendoza as the top signal caller on the market, possessing substantial talent and two years of eligibility remaining. At 6-5 and 225 pounds, it’s easy to get excited about Mendoza and the upside he brings to the talent. He possesses an unorthodox approach that he brings to the table, but also has some legitimate arm talent and is a creative athlete as well.
It was announced on Tuesday that Mendoza had found a new home, and it was a somewhat surprising one. The Miami native opted for the Indiana Hoosiers despite interest from prominent programs such as Georgia and Miami.
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti has quickly made the Hoosiers a very appealing destination, especially for quarterbacks. Seeing what Kurtis Rourke accomplished this season was undoubtedly a huge selling point for Mendoza. Those two players have some differences, but do bring a somewhat similar play style to the table as well.
Georgia was viewed as a big threat for Mendoza recently. They are set to most likely lose Carson Beck after the season, and there is some uncertainty about just how good Gunner Stockton is. Mendoza would have provided another talented quarterback in the room to hopefully find an answer.
For Miami, this is a really rough loss. They have largely gained very little traction with portal quarterbacks so far, and Mendoza seemed like a reasonable target considering he is from the city of Miami originally. That wasn’t enough to lure him to head home.
This is a monumental pull for the Hoosiers, who hope to continue to ride momentum heading into the 2025 season. Mendoza certainly brings a lot of positivity to the situation, and expectations should follow.
Former Notre Dame football commit spurns the SEC and transfers to a prominent Midwest program
Former Notre Dame decommit on the move.
