2022 QB Fernando Mendoza Discusses Commitment

 Cal adds a late commitment from 2022 3-star QB Fernando Mendoza out of Florida. He discusses his commitment here.

Columbus High School QB Fernando Mendoza

                                                                        

    Earlier this month, Columbus High School (Fl.) 3-star quarterback Fernando Mendoza announced his commitment to Cal shortly after de-committing from Yale. In his senior season, Mendoza recorded 151 completions for 1,690 yards and 17 touchdowns and led his team to a conference championship appearance. He ended up choosing Cal over Yale, Florida International, UT-Martin, Bryant, & more.

    Mendoza knew he was ready to commit after he got to go on his official visit and meet his future teammates and the whole coaching staff, noting he had already done a lot of research on the program before the visit.  They made him feel at home and he admires the culture, teamwork, and competitive mindset they have around the program. "Cal has impressive experience on the coaching staff as Coach Musgrave and Coach Chryst have spent many years coaching in the NFL. Cal's environment is surrounded with high-level football players and extraordinary coaches and will prepare for the next level in both football and academics". Mendoza also noted how Cal presents a great all-around opportunity as they play in one of the most competitive conferences as well as offer a great education.

    He gets along great with the coaches at Cal, especially Coach Musgrave as they have talked multiple times and he can’t wait to be coached by him. As for other coaches like Coach Wilcox, Coach Chrystal, Coach Toler, & Coach Thompson, they all have a solid relationship with Mendoza and they talk frequently. He notes they are all very knowledgeable about the game of football and can help him develop into a great quarterback. Mendoza visited Cal on January 28th-30th and he had this to say about the program: “It was an amazing experience as I got to meet the entire staff and my future teammates. Everyone was so welcoming and competitive, I loved it. The facilities are world-class and I am excited to put them to use and improve to help the Golden Bears win football games”. He looks forward to learning from them as he gets on campus.

      Mendoza as a player is hardworking and a quick processor. He was born in Boston and likes to model his game off of Tom Brady and Mac Jones while also takes some tendencies from Josh Allen. Those QBs have pushed him and inspired him to become the person he is today. Mendoza should fit in the Cal offense well as they run an offense similar to his high schools. He is excited to help out the team in any way he can and is looking forward to discovering his role with the team. 

     He noted the competition is great in the conference and the future of Cal football is looking great. They have produced solid QBs from Aaron Rodgers to Jared Goff to even now Chase Garbers, and Mendoza is hoping to be the next in line destined for greatness. His goals are to help Cal win a Rose Bowl, get to the playoffs, and solidify themselves as a top program in the country. Mendoza has high expectations for himself and the program, and if everyone holds themselves to that same standard, I could see Cal making the jump.