While teammates were running their 40-yard dashes, a solitary figure was at the far end of Indiana's indoor practice facility.
Sporting a white T-shirt with simply "Mendoza" on the back — as if he needed identification — Heisman Trophy winner and projected No. 1 NFL Draft pick Fernando Mendoza silently stretched and tossed spongy balls to get ready for his pro day.
A few minutes later, the show started. And what a show it was.
With all 32 NFL franchises in attendance, many with multiple front office personnel, Mendoza performed as a No. 1 pick should on Wednesday at Indiana's Mellencamp Pavillon.
He displayed outstanding technical footwork. He hit receivers in stride on a wide variety of routes. He had multiple big-time long throws than melted into the arms of the sprinting 6-foot-5 E.J. Williams, one listed at 65 yards.
During the throws to his Indiana receivers who are NFL Draft prospects, Mendoza called out the receiver by name and the route.
"He looks, quite honestly, like a presumptive No. 1 overall pick, like a franchise-caliber quarterback," ESPN analyst Louis Riddick said.
The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 pick. Mendoza said Wednesday he has spoken with the Raiders twice already and was scheduled to do so again after his pro day.
"I wouldn't really say it's the mentality of trying to be the top pick. I'm just trying to be the best me possible, in that aspect, whatever team picks me. You only need one team to believe in you, whether you're the first pick or the last pick or whatever," he said.
"I'm just trying to be the best quarterback I can be in September rather than right now here in April. I'm putting all my effort into being the best quarterback possible for the season."
Mendoza threw 56 passes to receivers, more than most quarterbacks during on-campus pro days.
When he threw, dozens of NFL front office personnel were stretched from sideline to sideline behind him. Dozens of friends and family of all the IU prospects filled a small section of bleachers on one side, on the other side, a host of IU athletic department personnel, including athletic director Scott Dolson and university president Pam Whitten. There were easily several hundred spectators in IU's indoor practice facility for the most highly attended IU pro day ever.
(Photo: Credit: IU Athletics )
Indiana has 12 players currently rated as draft picks by consensus boards, including receivers Omar Cooper and Elijah Sarratt, tight end Riley Nowakowski and running backs Kaelon Black and Roman Hemby. Williams is also a potential pick or undrafted free agent signee, and all of those pass catchers caught balls from Mendoza on pro day.
"The main goal today was to serve my teammates," Mendoza said. "I think I was able to do that, to put them in position where they were able to make plays, show what they got, very excited for them in the future.
"Like I said, I'm trying to be the best quarterback in September. Today was cool. Yeah there's a little bit of nerves right before, but those nerves mean I'm ready. Those nerves turn into energy, energy toward the work and to be a better quarterback.
"So yeah, some nerves, but for me, it wasn't high stakes. It was just having fun with the guys."
The NFL is an adjustment for every college player, no matter how gifted, and there will be at least one technical one for Mendoza.
"There's going to be a lot more under center. That's a big adjustment to get used to. And just the nature of the game. The hashes are also more condensed, and the speed of the game is faster," he said.
"So all those things, I look forward to learning, learning from the new coaching staff I'll be blessed to have."
Mendoza did play in a wing-T offense in high school, and he's been working on running plays from under center during draft prep. His quarterback coach during his one season at Indiana, Chandler Whitmer, is now the quarterbacks coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but Whitmer was back assisting Mendoza on pro day.
Mendoza is coming off a Heisman Trophy season where he led coach Curt Cignetti's second Indiana team to the first 16-0 national championship in modern major-college football history.
Mendoza's Hoosiers never trailed in the playoffs, beating No. 9 Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl, No. 5 Oregon 56-22 in the Peach Bowl and No. 10 Miami 27-21 in the national title game on Miami's home field.
In the championship game, the Miami native beat the Hurricanes, a team that wouldn't even allow him to walk on, on a legendary touchdown run on fourth down.
After transferring from Cal, Mendoza in 2025 led FBS in passing touchdowns (41), led all power-4 players in touchdowns accounted for 47). That came even though he sat out the second half of the Illinois State game, and the fourth quarters of IU's wins over Illinois and Purdue since the Hoosiers had such a big lead.
His Heisman Trophy season at Indiana, Mendoza completed 72 percent of his passes (237-for-379) for 41 touchdowns against just six interceptions, and led the Big Ten in yards per attempt (10.78). He led Indiana to 41.6 points per game, second in FBS behind only Notre Dame's 42.0.
On third and fourth downs, Mendoza was No. 1 in the country in touchdowns (15), fourth in quarterback rating (92.0) and fourth in yards per attempt (9.55).