‘Completely Going to Succeed within the NFL’: Why Joel Klatt Is All In on Fernando Mendoza

Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza is betting on himself before he ever takes an NFL snap.

The former Indiana quarterback has decided not to throw at this week’s NFL Scouting Combine and will instead wait for more familiar surroundings at his pro day in April. 

FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt joined Colin Cowherd on Tuesday’s edition of “The Herd” to discuss Mendoza’s future and break down the first edition of his newly released mock NFL draft.

“I think he’s absolutely going to succeed in the National Football League,” said Klatt, who’s unbothered by Mendoza’s decision. “I’m a huge believer that … [quarterbacks have] to personal the sport from the pocket. It’s a must to try this within the Nationwide Soccer League. You can’t run your self right into a Tremendous Bowl. … Once you have a look at Mendoza and his greatest performances and his most clutch performances in crucial elements of the season, what was he doing? Making enormous throws from the pocket … late within the recreation, late within the down sequence. 

“I believe he is correct. He is a leverage thrower. … The very best quarterbacks by no means throw 50/50 balls. They’re at all times placing the share within the extensive receiver’s benefit due to the leverage that they throw with from a ball place and ball placement standpoint. … [Mendoza] does that. … For these two causes — proudly owning it from the pocket in huge moments and being an anticipatory, leverage thrower — I believe that this man … is totally going to succeed.”

It’s practically a foregone conclusion that the Las Vegas Raiders — a franchise whose id has traditionally been deeply rooted in its head coach and quarterback, which they’re presently in determined want of — will choose Mendoza with the primary total choose, based on Klatt and plenty of others. Mendoza checks all of the bins after main the Hoosiers to an ideal 16-0 file and a nationwide title this previous season.

“There’s this line [with] all gamers, however extra particularly for a quarterback,” Klatt added. “Does he translate, no matter match? … I believe it is extremely tough to seek out these gamers, and it is extra particularly tough to seek out them on the quarterback place. … Mendoza does not fairly cross that line, which is ok. … I believe that match nonetheless issues.”

Second-year Raiders normal supervisor John Spytek lately mentioned that he and new head coach Klint Kubiak, who takes over for Pete Carroll after a disappointing three-win season, are on the lookout for a quarterback who’s “a frontrunner, powerful as hell … a maniacal preparer … anyone that … likes to play soccer [and] will give every part to their teammates.”

Raiders minority proprietor Tom Brady attended the 2026 School Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship alongside fellow proprietor Mark Davis. In January, Brady described Mendoza as “a really mature younger man” with “a brilliant future.”

Mendonza is the primary participant off the board in Klatt’s first mock draft. Likewise, Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti is listed because the No. 1 coach on Klatt’s lately launched record of one of the best coaches in school soccer.