It’s that time of year again.
The New York Jets are 0-7, and with the franchise barreling toward a top pick in the 2026 NFL draft, some fans have already shifted their attention to Saturdays.
One name has quickly captured the imagination of New York’s fanbase: Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, a rising Heisman Trophy contender whose poise and production have made him one of college football’s most improved players this season.
In an exclusive interview with Jets X-Factor, David Dunn, Mendoza’s high school coach at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Florida, reflected on the quarterback’s meteoric rise. Dunn detailed the traits and habits that have fueled Mendoza’s ascent from his high school success in the Sunshine State to one of the NCAA’s premier signal-callers.
“His mindset and work ethic are what caught my attention,” Dunn told Jet X. “He showed up to every single meeting with a notebook and a pen and took copious notes every time we sat down, and just always overturned every single stone there is to make himself a better football player.”
Known for his leadership dating back to high school, Mendoza has earned the respect of his coaching staff and teammates at every stop throughout his career.
“He definitely earned his respect through consistency,” said Dunn. “He is a very energetic, positive, young man who is always present. It’s a combination of his energy and consistency.”
Dunn is more than confident in Mendoza’s ability to handle the bright lights and relentless scrutiny that come with being a starting quarterback in New York, a challenge he believes Mendoza is uniquely built for.
“He’s wired the right way. He’s one of those young men who has a laser focus and does a great job of blocking out the outside noise,” Dunn said.
Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand’s scheme blends West Coast principles with heavy use of motion and play-action. If you ask coach Dunn, he believes the Indiana standout will be able to fit in and thrive at the professional level, and in Engstrand’s scheme as well, should New York select him in April’s draft.
“I feel that he is going to adjust well to the professional game. I think he has outstanding coaching at IU. Coach [Curt] Cignetti and his staff have really developed him into a top-flight quarterback that I think will have all the tools necessary to have a high level of success at the professional level, regardless of the scheme,” Dunn said on Tuesday.
Mendoza feels like the kind of player built for New York. If the Jets are looking for a quarterback who can handle the chaos, lead with conviction, and tune out the noise, they can find their man in Bloomington, Indiana.
