Indiana Football Is Ready to Make Draft History - And It Starts With Fernando Mendoza
For decades, Indiana football has been a quiet presence on NFL Draft weekend - a program with proud history but little recent hardware to show for it when it comes to pro-level recognition. That’s about to change in a big way this spring.
The Hoosiers are poised to snap not one, but two of the longest-standing draft droughts in college football. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza is on track to become Indiana’s first first-round pick since wide receiver Thomas Lewis went 24th overall in 1994.
That’s a 31-year stretch - the longest first-round dry spell in the FBS. And if projections hold, Mendoza could go even higher than that.
We’re talking No. 1 overall territory - something IU hasn’t seen since Corby Davis in 1938.
Let that sink in: nearly nine decades since an Indiana player heard his name called first. Mendoza might be the one to break that streak, and he’s got the résumé to back it up - Heisman Trophy winner, national champion, and the kind of polished, poised passer NFL teams dream about.
But Mendoza isn’t the only Hoosier getting serious attention. In fact, this could be the deepest IU draft class ever.
The program’s record for most players selected in a single draft is seven, set back in 1976. That was during the days of 17 rounds - when the draft was more marathon than sprint.
Even back then, seven was a big number. The Hoosiers also had six players drafted in both 1944 and 1947.
But in the modern era? Indiana hasn’t had more than two players taken in a single draft since 2016.
That’s about to change.
According to ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller’s latest two-round mock for the 2026 NFL Draft - which kicks off April 23 in Pittsburgh - four Hoosiers are projected to go in the first two rounds. All four were key contributors to Indiana’s 2025 national championship run, and each brings a different skill set to the table.
1. Las Vegas Raiders - Fernando Mendoza, QB
Miller doesn’t mince words here - this is a no-brainer for the Raiders. After the Geno Smith experiment fizzled out, Vegas needs a new face of the franchise.
Mendoza checks every box: elite decision-making, pinpoint accuracy, and the type of toughness - both mental and physical - that separates good quarterbacks from great ones. He’s battle-tested, having led Indiana to a national title, and he’s the only quarterback in the class with a first-round grade.
He’s also walking into a pretty solid situation. With Kolton Miller protecting his blind side, Ashton Jeanty in the backfield, and Brock Bowers at tight end, the offensive infrastructure is already in place. Mendoza has the tools to start on Day 1 - and thrive.
37. New York Giants - D’Angelo Ponds, CB
Ponds might not be the flashiest name on the board, but he’s one of the most complete defensive backs in this class. He’s a true football player - instinctive, physical, and always around the ball.
He’s the top nickelback available, and his seven career interceptions speak to his playmaking ability. For a Giants team looking to solidify the secondary, Ponds brings immediate value and long-term upside.
43. Miami Dolphins - Omar Cooper Jr., WR
Cooper brings something special to the table: elite ball-tracking ability. He’s a technician in the slot, with the kind of hands and body control that make quarterbacks look good.
With Tyreek Hill’s future uncertain following a season-ending knee injury, Miami could be in the market for another dynamic weapon. Cooper fits the bill - and he’s ready to contribute from Day 1.
63. New England Patriots - Elijah Sarratt, WR
The Patriots found a way to reach the Super Bowl with a veteran-heavy receiver group led by 32-year-old Stefon Diggs. But the future at wideout needs to be addressed, and Sarratt has the traits to develop into a WR1.
He’s got size, physicality, and a knack for winning contested catches - think Courtland Sutton. He’d pair nicely with Drake Maye, giving the young QB a reliable target with a big catch radius and timing-friendly route running.
More Hoosiers on the Radar
Beyond those four, Indiana has several other players who could hear their names called - or at least latch on quickly as undrafted free agents. Linebacker Aiden Fisher, running backs Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black, center Pat Coogan, edge rusher Mikail Kamara, safeties Louis Moore and Devan Boykin, and tight end Riley Nowakowski are all on NFL radars.
It’s been a long time coming for Indiana football. But after a historic national championship season, the Hoosiers are finally getting their due on the draft stage. And if these projections come to fruition, we could be looking at a new era for the program - one where pro talent isn’t the exception, but the expectation.