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By Cole Sullivan
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Fernando Mendoza transferred from California to Indiana with the clear intention of competing under head coach Curt Cignetti and putting himself in a position to be drafted into the NFL.
That decision turned into everything and more for Mendoza. He not only led the Hoosiers to a national championship and won the Heisman Trophy, but also positioned himself as the projected No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft. On Friday, Mendoza officially announced he is leaving the collegiate level and declaring for April’s draft.
The news comes as a welcome — and expected — development for the Las Vegas Raiders and minority owner Tom Brady, as the team holds the top pick in the draft and has reportedly grown very fond of Mendoza, making him a strong candidate to be selected first overall.
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Brady, along with Raiders owner Mark Davis and general manager John Spytek, attended the national championship game to get a closer look at Mendoza, and he delivered a gritty performance that helped lead his team to victory.
The Raiders are currently in the midst of significant roster turnover and are searching for their next head coach after firing Pete Carroll following just one season.
Still, identifying a franchise quarterback remains the most important step in building a sustainable culture and foundation — and it appears Mendoza could be that player in Las Vegas.
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Throughout his Heisman-winning season with the Hoosiers, Mendoza completed 72% of his passes for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and just six interceptions, while also rushing for 276 yards and seven scores.
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