By Mallory Mattingly
From an underrated two-star recruit out of high school to wrapping up a perfect 16-0 season at the University of Indiana, quarterback Fernando Mendoza just shared some lessons he learned along the way.
Last Monday, he led the Hoosiers to a first-time National Championship win.
According to Sports Illustrated, Mendoza completed “16 of 27 passes for 186 yards while converting key fourth downs to lead Indiana to victory — with none bigger than his 12-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-5 in the fourth quarter. Mendoza was named Offensive Player of the Game, adding the cherry on top to an undefeated campaign that also saw him win the Heisman trophy.”
He took to LinkedIn a few days later to reflect on his college career and his future in a now viral post.
“Monday night, my teammates and I had the honor of raising the National Championship trophy and bringing a CFB title back to Bloomington, Indiana, for the first time in history. With the guidance of our coaches and the unwavering support of Hoosier Nation, our band of brothers made the unbelievable believable,” Mendoza shared.
Related: Fernando Mendoza Glorifies God After Historic Season, Heisman Win
“Winning a National Championship taught me about B2B sales (kidding…kinda),” he quipped, before sharing three things he’s learned.
First, “Believe in yourself: Four years ago, I was a two-star recruit playing high school football 30 minutes from Hard Rock Stadium with a dream of playing at the highest level. Two days ago, I became a National Champion in that same stadium, surrounded by the family who never stopped believing in me.”
Second, “Take the risk: When it’s 4th and 5 at the 12-yard line, go for it.”
Finally, “Remember who got you there: Thank you to my teammates, coaches, support staff, professors, and everyone behind the scenes who helped make this happen.”
On Friday, Mendoza announced that he was “officially declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft,” giving God the glory.
“Coming to Indiana was a leap of faith, a leap that led me to going 16-0, with my boys and a national championship, and has now led me here, the moment where I get to dream bigger,” the athlete said in the announcement.
“Thank you to my family, the teammates that pushed me and the coaches that took a chance on me,” he continued. “It is only with your support and the glory of God that I am here today with trust in my foundation and gratitude for every person who has helped me reach this moment.”
“I am ready to take the next step. My LinkedIn status is now open to work, and I am officially declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft,” Mendoza concluded.
From just a two-star recruit out of high school to a national champion, Mendoza is ready to take what he learned at Indiana to the NFL.
Read Next: Fernando Mendoza Praises God After Leading Indiana to First-Ever National Championship
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