Since the moment Fernando Mendoza hoisted the National Championship trophy at Indiana back in January, he was a lock for the number one overall pick in the draft. The Raiders did the expected thing and made him their pick to be their hopeful franchise quarterback. And yet, according to Mendoza’s teammates you’d think Mendoza wasn’t drafted at all with the way he approaches practice.
“His mentality as a rookie is elite. It’s insane,” wide receiver Tre Tucker said of Mendoza. “For a guy with where he’s been throughout his career. And it’s also really cool to see. He was the number one overall pick, but you’d think that he comes in as an undrafted guy the way he works, the way his mentality is. And that’s really what you want. For a guy like that. He knows his expectations are big for him and he’s got a bright future, but he’s been tremendous. Very excited to work alongside of him.”
Mendoza has spoken many times since he was selected by the Raiders that he is starting at the bottom of the totem pole. That’s how he sees it. And you believe him when he says it because that has consistently been his approach.
The Miami native has had to start from the ground up several times in his young football career. He began his college ball at Cal, then transferred to Indiana, and now he begins his NFL career in Las Vegas. That’s three different spots in three years, all of which he had to prove himself.
His approached paid off big time in his single season at Indiana. it’s that mindset that sealed it for Raiders GM John Spytek when he drafted him.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Raiders WR says QB Fernando Mendoza mentality is like undrafted rookie