Fernando Mendoza wasn't a can't miss superstar in high school. Not even close.
As a senior at Cristopher Columbus High School in Miami in the 2022 class, 247Sports rated Mendoza as the 250th best recruit in Florida. He was never considered for the USA Today Florida Network's top 100.
Even Mendoza's high school coach didn't feel the quarterback was the best prospect in his own family.
"He wasn’t a finished product in high school," Columbus coach Dave Dunn said. "His younger brother, Alberto, was a much more finished product. He even said at one time he was like a baby giraffe in high school. But he had knowledge and work ethic. He’s worked so hard."
In an era when most elite prospects sign during the early signing period in December, Mendoza had to wait until late January of his senior year to even get an FBS offer.
Fast forward four years and Mendoza has a full trophy case from his historic season at Indiana and is the overwhelming favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft.
"He’s a late bloomer," Miami Palmetto coach Mike Manasco said. "His senior year, we played him three times. I thought he was great in the offense Columbus runs. Tough kid. Felt his feet were his best attribute. Every game he got better. In the playoff game, he was a lot better than he was during the regular season. I always thought his younger brother was going to be the one. But Fernando is the one."
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Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) passes against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first half of the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesDec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa (61) blocks the rush during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn ImagesOhio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) celebrates a touchdown Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, during the Big Ten football championship against the Indiana Hoosiers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 4: Rueben Bain Jr. #4 of the Miami Hurricanes pressures Tommy Castellanos #1 of the Florida State Seminoles during the fourth quarter of the game at Doak S. Campbell Stadium on October 4, 2025 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Jason Clark/Getty Images)Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor (3) gets into position during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn ImagesIndiana Hoosiers defensive back D'Angelo Ponds (5) reacts after making a stop Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, during the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game against the Miami (FL) Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.Sep 20, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman R Mason Thomas (32) reacts after recording a sack during the third quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn ImagesNov 29, 2025; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen (13) scores a rushing touchdown during the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn ImagesGeorgia defensive back Daylen Everette (6) carries the ball for a touchdown after a fumble during the Sugar Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinals at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, La., on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026.Nov 1, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini linebacker Gabe Jacas (17) celebrates his sack on Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16) during the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn ImagesCarson Beck #11 of the Miami Hurricanes throws the ball against the Ole Miss Rebels during the 2025 College Football PlayoffDec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive tackle Zane Durant (28) against the Boise State Broncos during the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesFlorida Gators defensive back Devin Moore (28) breaks up a pass intended for Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Dillon Bell (86) during the second quarter of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]Oct 11, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers defensive end Patrick Payton (6) retrieves a fumbled ball by South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Lanorris Sellers during the first half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images1 / 14Fernando Mendoza leads 2026 NFL Draft prospects from Florida H.S.Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) passes against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first half of the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images1 / 14Fernando Mendoza leads 2026 NFL Draft prospects from Florida H.S.Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) passes against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first half of the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images2 / 14Fernando Mendoza leads 2026 NFL Draft prospects from Florida H.S.Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa (61) blocks the rush during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images3 / 14Fernando Mendoza leads 2026 NFL Draft prospects from Florida H.S.Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) celebrates a touchdown Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, during the Big Ten football championship against the Indiana Hoosiers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.4 / 14Fernando Mendoza leads 2026 NFL Draft prospects from Florida H.S.TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 4: Rueben Bain Jr. #4 of the Miami Hurricanes pressures Tommy Castellanos #1 of the Florida State Seminoles during the fourth quarter of the game at Doak S. Campbell Stadium on October 4, 2025 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Jason Clark/Getty Images)5 / 14Fernando Mendoza leads 2026 NFL Draft prospects from Florida H.S.Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor (3) gets into position during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images6 / 14Fernando Mendoza leads 2026 NFL Draft prospects from Florida H.S.Indiana Hoosiers defensive back D'Angelo Ponds (5) reacts after making a stop Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, during the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game against the Miami (FL) Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.7 / 14Fernando Mendoza leads 2026 NFL Draft prospects from Florida H.S.Sep 20, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman R Mason Thomas (32) reacts after recording a sack during the third quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images8 / 14Fernando Mendoza leads 2026 NFL Draft prospects from Florida H.S.Nov 29, 2025; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen (13) scores a rushing touchdown during the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images9 / 14Fernando Mendoza leads 2026 NFL Draft prospects from Florida H.S.Georgia defensive back Daylen Everette (6) carries the ball for a touchdown after a fumble during the Sugar Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinals at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, La., on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026.10 / 14Fernando Mendoza leads 2026 NFL Draft prospects from Florida H.S.Nov 1, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini linebacker Gabe Jacas (17) celebrates his sack on Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16) during the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images11 / 14Fernando Mendoza leads 2026 NFL Draft prospects from Florida H.S.Carson Beck #11 of the Miami Hurricanes throws the ball against the Ole Miss Rebels during the 2025 College Football Playoff12 / 14Fernando Mendoza leads 2026 NFL Draft prospects from Florida H.S.Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive tackle Zane Durant (28) against the Boise State Broncos during the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images13 / 14Fernando Mendoza leads 2026 NFL Draft prospects from Florida H.S.Florida Gators defensive back Devin Moore (28) breaks up a pass intended for Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Dillon Bell (86) during the second quarter of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]14 / 14Fernando Mendoza leads 2026 NFL Draft prospects from Florida H.S.Oct 11, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers defensive end Patrick Payton (6) retrieves a fumbled ball by South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Lanorris Sellers during the first half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn ImagesDid Mendoza get overlooked in high school?You could make that argument ... now. And some have. They'll swear they saw what Mendoza could or would become.
"People have revisionist history," Dunn said. "At the time, coaches were telling me that they liked him, but they were going to pass. Now all those guys are coming back to me, and they all blame someone else for why they didn't take him."
But the reality is Mendoza wasn't a superstar in high school.
He was impressive as a junior when he led Columbus to a 9-0 record in a COVID shortened season. It also came at a time when college coaches were unable to see high school players in person — a travel ban that extended to the spring before Mendoza's senior year.
For recruiting purposes, Mendoza basically lost the season where players tend to go from prospect to recruit and then the most important spring to be seen by coaches.
And then he got to his senior year. Columbus came into the season riding a 16-game win streak, but this wasn't the same team.
"We did not have a good receiving core, and we had a really young offensive line," Dunn said.
Mendoza got hit a lot his senior year. Miami Palmetto coaches came away impressed with his toughness because of how many times he got up after getting hit. Venice sacked him seven times in his final high school game.
"He was very polished with footwork and was very accurate with the football," Venice coach John Peacock said after rewatching the film from their 35-7 win over Columbus in the 2021 state semifinal game. "We had a very good front that year which caused the majority of his issues. But you could tell he was a very good player."
The summer before Mendoza's senior year, Dunn was at a 7-on-7. He overheard a college coach concerned that they were going to miss on Columbus' rising senior quarterback. The college coach liked the way Mendoza threw the ball and loved his ability on the white board, but he wasn't sure if he could sell his head coach on taking a chance on an unheralded prospect. They never offered.
Dunn retells the story as an outlier, not a common refrain. No one saw this version of Mendoza coming.
"I felt like he was an average quarterback, nothing crazy," Chaminade-Madonna coach Dameon Jones said. Chaminade beat Columbus 33-17 during Mendoza's senior year, a game that saw Mendoza throw an interception to future Indiana teammate — and fellow NFL Draft prospect — D'Angelo Ponds. "He was what we call a game manager. That’s what we thought about him. I see this happen all the time. He was one way in high school and then he gets in certain systems and the system fits. He could have been at a whole other school than Indiana and not looked like that. That system fit and I hope at the next level system fits him, too."