'Absolutely Going to Succeed in the NFL': Why Joel Klatt Is All In on Fernando Mendoza
#Fernando Mendoza#Joel Klatt#NFL Draft#Heisman Trophy#Las Vegas Raiders#Quarterback#NFL Scouting Combine#College Football
📌 Key Takeaways
Joel Klatt is extremely confident in Fernando Mendoza's NFL success
Mendoza skipped throwing at the NFL Combine to wait for his pro day
Mendoza is projected as the first overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders
Klatt cites Mendoza's pocket presence and accuracy as key to his NFL potential
Raiders leadership is seeking a tough, prepared quarterback like Mendoza
📖 Full Retelling
FOX Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt expressed unwavering confidence in NFL prospects for reigning Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza during an appearance on 'The Herd' on February 24, 2026, praising the Indiana quarterback's pocket presence and accuracy while discussing Mendoza's decision to skip throwing at the NFL Scouting Combine in favor of his pro day in April. Klatt, who released his first mock NFL draft shortly before the segment, emphasized that Mendoza's ability to 'own the game from the pocket' and make 'huge throws from the pocket in big moments' would translate successfully to the professional level. The analyst highlighted Mendoza as an 'anticipatory, leverage thrower' who consistently puts 'the percentage in the wide receiver's advantage' rather than throwing 50/50 balls, qualities Klatt believes are essential for NFL success. The Las Vegas Raiders are widely expected to select Mendoza with the first overall pick, according to Klatt and many other analysts, as the franchise desperately seeks a new identity at quarterback following a disappointing three-win season. Raiders general manager John Spytek and new head coach Klint Kubiak have indicated they're looking for a leader who is 'tough as hell' and 'a maniacal preparer,' qualities Mendoza demonstrated while leading the Hoosiers to a perfect 16-0 record and national championship this past season.
🏷️ Themes
NFL Draft Prospects, Quarterback Evaluation, College Football Success
Fernando Gabriel Mendoza V (born October 1, 2003) is an American college football quarterback for the Indiana Hoosiers. Mendoza previously played for the California Golden Bears before transferring to Indiana in 2025, where he won the Heisman Trophy among other awards en route to a national champion...
National Football League franchise in the Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Raiders are a professional American football team based in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Raiders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team plays its home games at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev...
The NFL draft, officially known as the Annual Player Selection Meeting, is an annual event which serves as the most common source of player recruitment in the National Football League (NFL). Each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order relative to its record in the previous y...
American college football commentator and analyst (born 1982)
Joel Klatt (born February 4, 1982) is an American college football color commentator and analyst for Fox Sports. Klatt played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes. He was the first three-year starter at quarterback for Colorado since Kordell Stewart.
Annual award for the most valuable college football player
The Heisman Memorial Trophy ( HYZE-mən; also known simply as the Heisman) is awarded annually since 1935 to the top player in college football. It is considered the most prestigious award in the sport and is presented by the Heisman Trophy Trust following the regular season in December. The most rec...
- No Data Available - BROWSE BY SPORTS & TEAMS PLAYERS SHOWS PERSONALITIES TOPICS Built on College Football College Football 'Absolutely Going to Succeed in the NFL': Why Joel Klatt Is All In on Fernando Mendoza Published Feb. 24, 2026 7:11 p.m. ET share facebook x reddit link Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza is betting on himself before he ever takes an NFL snap. The former Indiana quarterback has decided not to throw at this week's NFL Scouting Combine and will instead wait for more familiar surroundings at his pro day in April. FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt joined Colin Cowherd on Tuesday's edition of " The Herd " to discuss Mendoza’s future and break down the first edition of his newly released mock NFL draft . "I think he's absolutely going to succeed in the National Football League," said Klatt, who's unbothered by Mendoza’s decision. "I'm a huge believer that … [quarterbacks have] to own the game from the pocket. You have to do that in the National Football League. You cannot run yourself into a Super Bowl. … When you look at Mendoza and his best performances and his most clutch performances in the most important parts of the season, what was he doing? Making huge throws from the pocket … late in the game, late in the down sequence. "I think he's accurate. He's a leverage thrower. … The best quarterbacks never throw 50/50 balls. They're always putting the percentage in the wide receiver's advantage because of the leverage that they throw with from a ball position and ball placement standpoint. … does that. … For those two reasons — owning it from the pocket in big moments and being an anticipatory, leverage thrower — I think that this guy … is absolutely going to succeed." Joel Klatt on Fernando Mendoza's combine decision, 1.0 Mock Draft, more It’s nearly a foregone conclusion that the Las Vegas Raiders — a franchise whose identity has historically been deeply rooted in its head coach and quarterback, which they're current...
