Fernando Mendoza stood in front of a crimson backdrop featuring white Indiana University tridents. As usual, a wall of cameras lined up to capture the quarterback’s press conference. But this time, he donned a white T-shirt with “Pro Day” printed across the front for his final media availability at Indiana before the NFL draft on April 23.
Mendoza had just completed his anticipated pro day workout Wednesday in the John Mellencamp Pavilion, where members of the Las Vegas Raiders scouting department, general manager John Spytek and head coach Klint Kubiak were in attendance. The Raiders are projected to select Mendoza as the No. 1 overall selection in the 2026 NFL draft.
With all 32 NFL teams represented at Indiana football’s pro day, 23 players from the Hoosiers’ national championship squad participated to varying extents. Among them, Mendoza and D’Angelo Ponds stood out.
Mendoza’s workout was efficient and consistent. From short whip routes to go-routes, Mendoza routinely delivered accurate passes to receivers. While members of the media and Raiders personnel were focused on the projected top pick, Mendoza wanted to spread the attention.
The projected No. 1 pick appeared on The Pat McAfee Show on Feb. 6, where he expressed his desire to throw to familiar targets at pro day, rather than the combine. On Wednesday, Mendoza fulfilled his wishes.
“I wanted to best showcase our guys,” Mendoza said. “Quarterbacks in the past have done shorter pro days than that. However, I just wanted to make sure everyone could showcase their abilities in front of all 32 NFL teams and really run routes that are applicable to the timing that we’re gonna be running in the NFL. So I think it went great. I think everyone showcased amazing.”
Throughout, Mendoza flung passes to running backs Kaelon Black, Roman Hemby and Solomon Vanhorse. He also threw to wide receivers Jonathan Brady, Omar Cooper Jr., Elijah Sarratt and E.J. Williams Jr., and tight ends Riley Nowakowski and Holden Staes. Mendoza completed 53 of 56 passes — two of the incompletions stemmed from drops, while the other was an overthrow intended for Sarratt.
Mendoza finished his workout by connecting with Cooper Jr. in stride. The receiver ran through the back of the end zone before being greeted by Mendoza and other participants in a huddle.
Since Mendoza skipped NFL Scouting Combine workouts in February in Indianapolis, Wednesday served as his primary showcase. Despite the spotlight, Mendoza focused more on competition than expectations.
“I wouldn’t say that I have the mentality of being the top pick,” Mendoza said. “I just want to be the best me possible.”
But before Mendoza took center-stage, another former Hoosier highlighted the event.
Players lined up one by one between two cones at the goal line, readying for the 40-yard dash. Silence filled the John Mellencamp Pavilion for the first eight participants, but D’Angelo Ponds’ first run drew audible reactions from scouts.
The cornerback flew out of his stance, before recording an unofficial 4.31 time. Ponds said he timed a 4.28 during training, but his unofficial pro day mark still would have been the fastest 40-yard dash among cornerbacks at the NFL combine.
“I felt like a lot of people didn’t expect me to run that time,” Ponds said. “So, I’m just glad I put it out there on tape.”
Ponds already impressed at the combine with a 43.50’’ vertical jump –– the highest among his position and third-best mark overall. Despite questions surrounding his height, the 5-foot-9 Ponds has left little doubt about his athleticism heading into the draft. ESPN’s Matt Miller projected Ponds as a second-round pick in his latest mock draft.
Other standouts from the Hoosiers’ pro day include linebacker Aiden Fisher and Black. Fisher and Black both registered a 37.5-inch vertical jumps. Fisher would have tied for ninth among linebackers at the combine, while Black would have been tied for the third highest mark in his respective position group. Black also recorded 27 bench press repetitions, which would have been the most for a running back at the combine.
Follow reporters Conor Banks (@Conorbanks06 and conbanks@iu.edu) and Dalton James (@DaltonMJames and jamesdm@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana football offseason.
