The Long Road: From Two-Star Recruit to First-Round NFL Draft Pick
Berkeley, CA & Bloomington, IN – A quarterback who was rated a two-star prospect in high school and received only one Power 5 scholarship offer was selected in the first round of the NFL draft.
The player, Mendoza, attended Christopher Columbus High School near his home, played two seasons as starting quarterback at Cal Berkeley, and later transferred to Indiana. He led his team to a 16-0 season with a national championship and won the Heisman Trophy.
"I believe I'm still the underdog... I need to work every single day possible, because I'm on the bottom of the totem pole." - Mendoza
Despite his remarkable college success, the quarterback maintains a mindset of scarcity and effort. His journey—from a largely overlooked high school prospect to a national champion and Heisman winner—is now capped by a first-round selection, yet he insists his work is just beginning.