Where is Fernando Mendoza from? Hometown, high school and more about Indiana QB's Florida roots

Jake Mozarsky

•
Where is Fernando Mendoza from? Hometown, high school and more about Indiana QB's Florida roots image

JUMP TO:

There aren’t many stories in college football better than Fernando Mendoza and the Indiana Hoosiers.

Mendoza, who transferred to Bloomington from California in the offseason, has been electric for Indiana on its way to the program’s first-ever 13-0 season and its first outright Big Ten title since 1945. The quarterback has emerged as one of the best players in the sport, leading the nation in passing touchdowns in his first year in Bloomington. 

Here’s more about his hometown, high school and where the Hoosiers’ superstar came from.

MORE: Where does Indiana’s Curt Cignetti rank among college football’s highest-paid coaches?

Where is Fernando Mendoza from?

Mendoza is from Miami, Florida.

He was born in Miami and attended Christopher Columbus High School there. He is also of Cuban descent, with all four of his grandparents having been born and raised in Cuba before emigrating to Miami.

MORE: Curt Cignetti's best quotes at Indiana

Fernando Mendoza parents

Mandy Mendoza (Mother)

Mandy Mendoza is a central figure in Fernando’s life and a powerful inspiration for his charitable work. She is recognized for her courageous battle against Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a progressive autoimmune disease. The family often speaks about how her perseverance has shaped Fernando’s resilient mindset and work ethic.

Mandy has been instrumental in the creation of Fernando's NIL merchandise line, as a portion of all proceeds is dedicated to the National MS Society. By publicly sharing her story, she has helped transform her son's athletic success into a significant platform for MS awareness and fundraising. She resides with the family in Miami.

Alex Mendoza (Father)

Alex Mendoza is the father of Fernando and has played a key role in supporting his son's football career and the family's transition to a high-profile college football environment. He has been described in media reports as a quiet but consistent source of support, often managing the complexities surrounding Fernando's college career and his off-field business endeavors.

Alex, along with Mandy, raised Fernando in Miami. The Mendozas have deep roots in the city, with Alex supporting Fernando through his high school years and during the period he spent at Cal before his transfer to Indiana.

MORE: Fernando Mendoza and Curt Cignetti react to Indiana's success

Where did Fernando Mendoza go to high school?

Mendoza attended Christopher Columbus High School in Miami. He was a notable quarterback for the Explorers, although he was not a heavily recruited prospect, which has added to his compelling underdog story.

Mendoza was part of the 2019 team that won the Florida 8A State Championship as a sophomore. Though he was the third-string quarterback, he gained valuable experience and started a few games that year due to injuries.

MORE: Heisman Trophy winners by year

Fernando Mendoza high school stats

Mendoza played in 17 games in high school, the majority of starts coming his senior year. In 2021, he completed 107 of 169 passes (63.3% completion rate) for 1,169 yards, with 11 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions.

He led Columbus to the FHSAA Class 8A State Championship game. As a recruit, Mendoza initially committed to Yale before flipping to California.

Did Fernando Mendoza play other sports?

Mendoza did not play other sports in high school.

Fernando Mendoza recruiting offers

Mendoza was rated as a two-star or low three-star prospect, depending on the recruiting service, and was not highly sought after by Power Five (now Power Four) schools.

Rated as only a two-star or low three-star prospect, Mendoza did not attract the attention of top FBS schools for much of his high school career, despite leading his team to a state championship appearance. His initial and most notable offers came from smaller Division I programs, including Yale, Penn, and Lehigh. Believing this was his highest ceiling,

Mendoza committed to Yale before his senior year. Crucially, the University of California, Berkeley (Cal) was the only Power Five school to extend a scholarship offer to Mendoza, and it came very late in the cycle after another quarterback de-committed. Seizing the opportunity to play at the highest level, Mendoza flipped his commitment from Yale and signed with Cal, signaling that his remarkable career.

Senior Editor