LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza announced Friday he is declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Mendoza made the announcement in an Instagram post, reflecting on his time with the Hoosiers after helping lead the team to a perfect 16-0 season and national championship.
“Coming to Indiana was a leap of faith,” Mendoza said in the video. “A leap that led me to going 16-0 with my boys, a national championship, and has now led me here.”
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner thanked his family, teammates and coaches in the announcement.
“It is only with your support and the glory of God that I am here today,” Mendoza said. “With trust in my foundation and gratitude for every person that has helped me reach this moment, I am ready to take the next step.”
Mendoza concluded his announcement saying his “LinkedIn status is now open to work” before officially declaring for the draft.
During the 2025 season, Mendoza led the Hoosiers to a perfect 16-0 record, a feat not achieved since the 1894 Yale Bulldogs, and the team’s first-ever national championship.
The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for Thursday, April 23, in Pittsburgh, where the Las Vegas Raiders currently hold the No. 1 overall pick.
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