INDIANAPOLIS — Fernando Mendoza said he was able to say a brief “hi” to Las Vegas Raiders minority owner Tom Brady during his NFL scouting combine interview with the team last week.
The Indiana quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner looks forward to more interactions soon.
Mendoza is projected to be the No. 1 pick by the Raiders in next month’s NFL draft, and he said if that pick becomes reality, he would relish the chance to learn from Brady.
“Who hasn’t admired Tom Brady? The guy has more Super Bowl rings than anybody,” Mendoza said at the combine. “That opportunity would be fantastic. Tom Brady, I believe, is the greatest quarterback of all time by a wide margin, and to be able to be mentored by him, it would mean so much.
“I’m all about learning. So from Day 1, I’ve got to learn a lot. It’s going to be a long journey, and to potentially have a mentor like that would be pretty impressive and pretty meaningful.”
Mendoza, who opted not to participate in drills at the combine, drew a big crowd at his media availability and answered multiple questions about potentially going to the Raiders.
He called the staff “football savvy” and said they taught him a play during his interview.
“They had their whole progression on how they teach quarterbacks a play,” he said. “It was very similar to how my Indiana progression was. I’m a very type-A guy, and they had all the details of each play: what to do if you have a problem with each play, what’s your drop, what’s your progression.”
Mendoza threw for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns with six interceptions while leading Indiana to its first national championship in a 16-0 season. If the Raiders draft him, he would be going to a team that finished 3-14 in a tumultuous 2025 season.
But Mendoza noted that quick turnarounds are possible in the NFL.
“In the NFL, the margins are so small,” he said. “There are so many games decided by so few points, and the difference between a losing record and a winning record is a couple of drives, a couple of key plays. So whatever team I’m on, I’m just going to take the advice from the coaching staff and however I can best serve my teammates on that team, I’m going to do it to the best of my ability.”
Luke Altmyer on his future role
Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer was talking to reporters — not the teams considering drafting him — but he had his pitch ready.
Asked what sets him apart from the other quarterbacks in this draft class, Altmyer, typically expansive in his answers, rattled off a long list of qualities, starting with his experience and intangibles.
“My leadership qualities, what I’ve overcome,” he said. “I’ve earned everything, man, in the hardest league. It wasn’t easy at Illinois playing in the weather. I think that’s a separator for me. I played more in a pro-style offense, a little bit of spread elements. Playing under center, calling plays in the huddle, playing in weather. I played in 10 inches of snow, some rain and the windiest stadium in America.
“And I’ve been super efficient and really good and hard to defend. My creativity, my mobility, it shows up all over the tape. My toughness, my competitive spirit, my desire to win. I think I can make all the throws as well.”
Altmyer threw for 7,607 yards and 57 touchdowns over three seasons at Illinois, including 3,007 yards and 22 touchdowns with five interceptions as a senior. He helped the Illini set a program record with 19 wins, including two bowl victories, over the last two seasons.
He is projected to be a Day 3 pick, which would make him the first Illinois quarterback drafted since Kurt Kittner in 2002.
ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranked him as the ninth-best quarterback in the class heading into the combine. NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein praised Altmyer’s production relative to his protection and called his eye discipline, patience and anticipation adequate while questioning his operation time and arm talent.
Altmyer said he believes he can play in the NFL. But he also said he has taken note of what it means to be a backup at that level.
He said he spent time during the predraft process with 18-year NFL quarterback and eight-time Pro Bowler Philip Rivers, who talked about how valuable the quarterback room was to him and how the backups helped him prepare.
“They had a job to do and did it well, and how valuable those people were, it’s a big deal,” Altmyer said. “Obviously I want to play. I’m looking forward to playing. I know I can play. I know I can win. I’ve done that.
“But when I walk in the building one day, my job is to do it well, whether I’m mopping the floor or I’m running the show. I’m going to use my gifts every single day to be my best.”
Malachi Fields wants a re-run
Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields visited with NFL reporter Kay Adams on her show shortly after the combine to let everyone know he planned to run the 40-yard dash again at his pro day.
Fields’ time of 4.61 seconds was second-to-last among receivers at the combine. He said he needs to work on his stance so that he explodes out instead of up. He hopes to run in the 4.5s.
“I can definitely run faster,” he told Adams. “So just going back to work and focusing on pro day. But not dwelling on it too much, knowing there are more drills to do. There’s running routes. … Catching the ball is what I’m known for anyway, so just trying to refocus on the route-running piece of it.”
In one season at Notre Dame after transferring from Virginia, Fields had 36 catches for 630 yards and five touchdowns. He said his experience with the Irish helped him to understand how to go into a new place and win a job, and he thought he grew on the field too.
“Just my confidence,” Fields said. “Stepping on the field believing I can compete with anybody in the country.”
