Mendoza impressive during Indiana’s pro day

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — With representatives from all 32 NFL clubs looking on, Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza capped Indiana’s most-watched pro-day workout in program history by completing the vast majority of his 56 scripted throws inside the John Mellencamp Pavilion.

The 6-foot-5, 236-pound quarterback—11 pounds heavier than his listed 2025 playing weight—alternated between short rhythm passes, intermediate in-breaking routes and deep shots to both sidelines, rolling out on several reps to showcase his movement skills. Only a handful of balls hit the turf, the most notable an overthrown post to Elijah Sarratt that sailed a half-yard past the receiver’s outstretched hands.

“I feel like it went great,” Mendoza said afterward. “Quarterbacks have done shorter pro days than that, but I wanted to make sure everybody could showcase their abilities in front of all 32 NFL teams and run routes that are applicable to the timing we’re going to be running in the NFL.”

The session drew more than 100 credentialed media members and dozens of former Hoosiers’ family members, creating a scene unprecedented for an Indiana pro day. While most positional drills proceeded in relative anonymity, the crowd clustered around the 50-yard line whenever Mendoza stepped under center, television lights illuminating both end zones.

Wednesday’s workout marked the only on-field throwing Mendoza has done for scouts since skipping drills at February’s NFL scouting combine. The performance came three months after he completed 72 percent of his passes for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns against six interceptions, leading Indiana to its first outright Big Ten championship since 1945 and the school’s first national title. Along the way he defeated Ohio State, Alabama, Oregon and Miami in succession, further burnishing a résumé that has made him the presumptive No. 1 overall selection in the April 23 draft.

Las Vegas, which holds the top pick, has already conducted two meetings with the Boston-born quarterback—one at the combine and another via Zoom—and has an additional session scheduled before draft night. Mendoza, a self-described longtime fan of Raiders minority owner Tom Brady, called the franchise “a perfect fit.”

Even so, he emphasized the learning curve ahead.

“There’s going to be a lot more snaps under center, and that’s a big adjustment,” Mendoza said. “The hash marks are more condensed, the speed of the game is faster—so all those things I look forward to learning.”

After his final throw, Mendoza joined teammates in a sprint to the end zone, the group embracing in a moment he described as one of gratitude for a historic season.

“It’s unlikely we’ll all play on the same team again,” he said, “but hopefully I’ll get to play against and with some of those guys again.”