Why Joel Klatt, Todd McShay Would Take Fernando Mendoza Over Different Younger QBs

[ad_1] Not lengthy after Fernando Mendoza quarterbacked Indiana to an ideal season and a nationwide title, FOX Sports activities lead faculty soccer analyst Joel Klatt floated the concept that he would take the Hoosiers star over any younger quarterback within the NFL to steer his group to a game-winning drive. Now, with the 2026 NFL Draft quick approaching, Klatt not solely has purchased into that concept, however he may additionally have one other high draft analyst agreeing with him.

Within the newest episode of "The Joel Klatt Present," Klatt and NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay agreed that they'd belief Mendoza to steer a group to a game-winning drive within the remaining moments greater than almost every other younger quarterback.

"I believe I might take Mendoza," Klatt stated, as he listed Caleb Williams, Cam Ward and others.

McShay, in the meantime, believes that the controversy is between Mendoza and only one different quarterback.

"It might come right down to Mendoza and Drake Maye, possibly," McShay stated. "I am armed with what I've seen within the NFL, which is not truthful. But when we're speaking about faculty careers, completely, 1,000%.

"However even understanding what I do know within the NFL, I nonetheless might [pick Mendoza]. He is completely different.

Whereas Indiana gained all 16 of its video games this previous season, not all of these wins have been fairly. Mendoza wanted to steer the Hoosiers to fourth-quarter comebacks in robust street environments at Iowa and Penn State. He needed to make huge throws and take Indiana on a game-winning drive within the fourth quarter of its win at Oregon. He additionally wanted to make some clutch throws and performs to assist seal the win over Ohio State within the Large Ten Championship earlier than doing the identical factor in Indiana's victory over Miami (Fla.) within the title recreation.

Which QB would you need in clutch time in a recreation? After all, the NFL is a distinct stage of competitors than the school recreation, and among the league's high younger quarterbacks proved they will deal with clutch moments this previous season. Williams, 24, helped the Chicago Bears get six fourth-quarter comeback wins in 2025, which was essentially the most within the league. Bo Nix, 26, had 5 fourth-quarter comeback wins and led the league in game-winning drives (seven) for the Denver Broncos.

Mendoza arguably had the most effective faculty profession of any quarterback because the flip of the last decade; he is the primary signal-caller to win the Heisman Trophy and nationwide title since Joe Burrow in 2019. That is why Klatt thought it was a simple alternative to choose Mendoza because the quarterback he'd flip to with the sport on the road over the opposite younger quarterbacks.

"You are taking him over Cam Ward," Klatt stated in a earlier episode. "Williams? Probably. Jayden Daniels? Probably? Maye? Actually after the Tremendous Bowl. [Michael] Penix [Jr.] and [J.J.] McCarthy? Completely. Nix? Questionable with the best way Nix performed in crunch time and in a few of these [big] video games, significantly within the fourth quarter.

"Mendoza in crunch time is unbelievable. He anticipates, is correct, good and an important teammate. He checks each single field."

As Klatt marveled at Mendoza's capacity to carry out within the clutch, McShay believes that the Indiana product's finest traits are how he is in a position to handle adversity and his management.

"I do not assume he [has] been round [Tom] Brady a lot, however you simply get that very same vibe the place he is specializing in issues that should you're in a classroom in highschool and this child's speaking, along with his arm raised, he is annoying," McShay stated. "However armed with these 26 years of doing this and listening to the issues he is targeted on as a younger man, I am like, ‘Man, he will get it.'"

"I worth adversity and never essentially the chip [on your shoulder] and the stuff we like to speak about on TV, however I believe as human beings, we have all been by completely different ranges of adversity," McShay added. "Just one human being on the planet can stay by that failure, insult or embarrassment and let you know what it was prefer to need to handle that internally and inform your self, ‘I’m nonetheless who I believe I'm. I am nonetheless that man, and now I am in a more durable spot to go show it.' … These moments, they make us and so they outline us. For Fernando, it was ‘stars don’t matter. Stars do not outline Fernando Mendoza.' I like the truth that he is coming into the league and he is already had a few of that."

Klatt agreed with that evaluation of Mendoza, who appears all however sure to be taken by the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 1 general choose within the 2026 NFL Draft.

"He saved saying to me this final yr, ‘Every single day I’m simply attempting to be the most effective Fernando Mendoza I can presumably be,' which sounds nerdy," Klatt stated. "Such as you stated, should you're in a highschool classroom, you roll your eyes and you are like, ‘Oh, OK.’