- - Fernando Mendoza to not throw at NFL combine, opting for pro day instead

John Leuzzi, USA TODAY NETWORKFebruary 6, 2026 at 6:40 PM

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Fernando Mendoza to not throw at NFL combine, opting for pro day instead

Fernando Mendoza will not throw at the upcoming NFL combine.

The former Indiana football quarterback shared the news while appearing in person on ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show" on Friday, Feb. 6 from Media Row at Super Bowl 60 in Santa Clara, California.

For his reasoning, the Heisman Trophy winner said he wants to throw at the Hoosiers' pro day on March 4 instead, where he can help give his "guy the best chance" at making an impression in front of NFL executives and turning a few of their heads.

"At the combine, you're throwing to different receivers, it's a whole different thing," Mendoza said. "And I want to make sure I give my guys the best chance. I want to throw at pro day with my guys, with my running backs and be there with the boys.

"The combine, I don't think throwing's going to be a priority just because it's such a quick turnaround."

"I'm gonna throw a pro day with my guys but I don't think throwing at the combine will be a priority..I wanna help my guys" ~ @qb_fernando #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/RVqP1f2h4H

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 6, 2026

REQUIRED READING: Fernando Mendoza was 'declined walk-on offer' at Miami. He just beat Canes for national title

Mendoza put together a career-high season in his lone year at Indiana, where he led the Hoosiers to a perfect 16-0 season and the program's first national championship title. In 16 games, Mendoza threw for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdown passes, while running in seven touchdowns, which includes a 12-yard score on fourth down in the national championship game vs. Miami.

He's the widely consensus projected No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL draft by NFL draft analysts, including USA TODAY Sports' Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz. Should Mendoza go No. 1 to the Las Vegas Raiders, he'd be the first Hoosiers' player taken with the top overall pick since the then-Cleveland Rams took Corby Davis in the 1938 NFL Draft.

He mentioned during his appearance that he's begun training in California.

"It's been a great process. Everybody always says when I watch interviews or ask former NFL players, like you guts, they say, 'Hey, this is an eight-week interview. You've got to give it your all, limit the distractions and really lock in because where you go and how you set yourself up in front of these GMs and in front of these teams is going to change your life forever,'" Mendoza continued.

"So, I'm making sure to put my head to the grindstone, and like you said, I wanna help my guys (so) at pro day, throw to the boys."

The NFL combine is set to run from Sunday, Feb., 23 to Monday, March 2 in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium, with on-field workouts starting on Thursday, Feb. 26.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fernando Mendoza throw at Indiana pro day, not NFL combine

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