INDIANAPOLIS — A huge contingent of Indiana Hoosiers fresh off a national championship participated in the NFL combine last week and they had plenty to say about their teammate Fernando Mendoza, the projected top pick of the Las VegasRaiders.
Both on the podium and in meeting rooms.
Cornerback D’Angelo Ponds was asked during his meeting with the Raiders whether he would enjoy getting to play with Mendoza again in the NFL.
“That would be a blessing for anybody to draft me,” he says of his response to the team. “They’re getting a great quarterback.
“A guy who can do it all. He’s a smart guy who can break down your coverages, he knows what coverage you’re in. He can make any throw, and he’s also a mobile guy.”
Here is a sampling of what some of the other former Indiana standouts said of Mendoza during their podium sessions in Indianapolis.
Pat Coogan, Center, on Mendoza’s communication
“Very clear and concise, and his ability to get his message across, you know, quickly, concise, was very impressive. And I think that that goes a long way, right? And it only got better from spring ball to fall camp to in season. It starts with his preparation, because he’s able to deliver messages that quick, because he knows exactly what he’s talking about. He knows exactly what he’s looking for. He knows the play calls inside and out. The preparation that he puts in allows him to be successful, which then gives us a chance to be successful, because he’s really the engine, right? It starts with him, and his ability to deliver messages and break the huddle with urgency and quickness was very impressive.”
Omar Cooper Jr., WR, on what an NFL team is getting in Mendoza
“A great leader, a great down-to-earth guy, someone who loves football as well. And he’s going to do whatever it takes to help his team win, and he showcased that this year. He’s going to put his body on the line ’cause of how much he loves football and then loves his teammates.”
Elijah Sarratt, WR, on the same question
“They’re going to expect a dog, first of all, no matter what happens to him, no matter how much he gets hit, he’s going to continue to get up, man. He’s a great guy, as good as a football player he is, he’s a better guy, man. And just seeing him throughout the process, winning the highs, making these accolades week in and week out, but continuing to be the same guy. We already know what he can do on the football field, that he can make every single throw. But to see him deal with all that and then still be the guy that he is, it’s just a testament to who he is and how he was raised, man. The Raiders are going to get a great player and an even greater man.”
Riley Nowakowski, TE, on Mendoza’s accuracy
“It’s great because he always puts the ball exactly where he wants it to be. You’ve got to get a little bit adjusted to that because you have to figure out where he wants it to be and exactly where he wants you to be. But I spend a lot of time in summer and spring and fall just catching from him, just doing spot catches. I kind of understood it at that point. If you’re a foot off, it could be a 40-yard ball. But if you’re a foot away from where he wants you to be, he’s going to move. He’s going to be like, move up or move back, you know what I mean? So I kind of started to understand it there. He’s very particular. He’s very detailed in that way. So that’s how he approaches everything, and it’s what makes him great. So I appreciate him doing that.”
Aiden Fisher, LB, on Mendoza’s leadership
“As a leader, they’re getting the best. Being around him the past year has elevated my game so much and made me a better person and better teammate and a better leader myself. He’s somebody who just elevates everybody around him. He’s an unbelievable talent but just an amazing human being to be around. People gravitate towards him, and I think that’s huge and speaks volume to who they’re getting.
“I think his poise and his calmness in clutch and crucial situations was something I could take from being able to go out there. I was a very vocal leader and watching him I think sometimes you don’t need to say as much. It’s just being able to kind of let the confidence flow off of you. I think some guys can gravitate towards that a little bit but I definitely learned a lot from him.”
Louis Moore, Safety, on going against him in practice each day
“He goes through his progressions. He doesn’t stare down receivers. He gives drops. I don’t think he threw too many picks against us this year. It was competitive practices, and then you’ve got the highest quarterback you’re going against every day in practice. That just made it that much easier going into the games too.”
“I’d say he’s a great man,” he added of his best quality. “As you can see, he carries himself well. I never see Fernando down. He’s somebody you just want to be around forever. Always positive energy. When he won his Heisman Trophy, he walked through that facility and took a picture with everybody. That was something special that he did. He didn’t have to do it. He always gives credit to his teammates. He’s a very accurate thrower. I feel like an underrated aspect of his game is his running ability. I feel like he’s faster than what people think he is. There were games like the Maryland game, he ran a touchdown. The Miami game, he ran a touchdown. Even getting those first downs, even being able to take hits. He was standing in the pocket, taking those hits, delivering balls. So, he’s just a special player.”
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.