Indiana made a major move this offseason by adding quarterback Fernando Mendoza, a transfer from California. As the likely starter, Mendoza arrives with high expectations after an impressive 2024 season. Ranked as one of the top transfer quarterbacks, he brings both experience and motivation to a team looking to build on last year’s success.
Fernando Mendoza Prepares to Lead Indiana Hoosiers
With Indiana aiming to build on a strong 2024, Mendoza is focused on proving himself at the Big Ten level. Mendoza completed 68.7% of his passes for 3,004 yards, 16 touchdowns, and six interceptions last season. Standing at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, he also contributed 105 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Despite his production, Mendoza began his college career as an overlooked prospect. Out of Columbus High School in Miami, Fla., he was rated as a two-star recruit, ranked No. 2,149 overall and No. 140 among the quarterbacks in his class.
His recruitment process was limited, with Yale being his only committable offer late in his senior year. However, Cal entered the picture unexpectedly, and Mendoza committed in Feb. 2022. He helped the team reach bowl eligibility in back-to-back seasons, ending a three-year streak of losing records.
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Now, he’ll look to bring that same impact to Indiana while simultaneously proving his doubters wrong.
Mendoza discussed his journey on the “Player’s Perspective Podcast,” hosted by Hoosiers Connect, a NIL collective for Indiana Athletics. He related to the mindset of Indiana’s 2024 roster, which was built on transfers who felt overlooked.
Last season, head coach Curt Cignetti brought in 13 players from James Madison, many of whom started at the FCS level. That collective “underdog mentality” helped fuel the team’s success, and Mendoza fits right into that culture.
Indiana’s O-Line, Offensive System Provides Stability for Mendoza
Indiana wasn’t the only program pursuing Mendoza. According to On3, Georgia, UCLA, and Wisconsin were also top contenders for the transfer. Under previous circumstances, Indiana might have been seen as a step down compared to those schools, but Cignetti’s influence changed that perception.
Cignetti’s history of quarterback development played a key role in Mendoza’s decision.
“The reason that IU stood out and stood out way above the rest was the number one factor was the development,” Mendoza explained. “The development that Coach Cignetti brings, that Coach Shanahan brings, and that Coach Whitmer brings. All three have worked with phenomenal quarterbacks in the past.”
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Mendoza elaborated on Cignetti’s track record of producing standout quarterbacks.
“Coach Cignetti, four out of the past five quarterbacks he’s had have all been conference players of the year. The only one that wasn’t was Kurtis Rourke, but I mean, that guy’s unbelievable.
“That guy’s great. Coach Shanahan—amazing offensive mind. And then coach Whitmer, coming from an NFL background to help me develop into my goal into an NFL quarterback one day,” he continued.
Indiana did lose co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tino Sunseri to UCLA this offseason. Still, they retained offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan and added Chandler Whitmer from the Atlanta Falcons to fill Sunseri’s role. Mendoza viewed these changes as positive, reinforcing his belief in the coaching staff’s ability to help him develop.
Mendoza also considered the strength of Indiana’s offensive line. The unit showed significant improvement from 2023 to 2024 under coach Bob Bostad. Mendoza described himself as a pass-first quarterback, but his rushing ability makes him more mobile than previous starter Kurtis Rourke.
In 2024, Mendoza ran the ball 87 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns. While not a dual-threat quarterback, he is capable of extending plays and picking up key yardage when necessary.
Rourke, who led Indiana to an impressive 11-2 record last season, exhausted his collegiate eligibility. He set single-season program records with 29 passing touchdowns and a 69.4% completion percentage. Now though, Mendoza will attempt to lead an offense that has already proven it can produce results.
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