$2.6 million college football QB praises Tom Brady ahead of NFL draft

A quarterback from a major college football program lauded Tom Brady prior to the 2026 NFL draft.

Jan 25, 2026; Seattle, WA, USA; Tom Brady signs autographs before the 2026 NFC Championship Game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images | Kevin Ng-Imagn Images

The 2025 football season ended on Jan. 19 with Indiana's victory against Miami in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.

One of the many heroes in the Hoosiers' improbable run to their national championship victory was quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who finished 2025 with a laundry list of awards, including the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, Davey O'Brien Award and consensus All-America honors.

In total, Mendoza passed for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns and six interceptions while rushing for 276 yards and seven more touchdowns over the course of the season.

A special visitor stood on the sidelines while the Hoosiers triumphed over the Hurricanes in Hard Rock Stadium. That visitor was none other than seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback, FOX Sports NFL analyst and Las Vegas Raiders minority owner Tom Brady.

For several months, NFL draft projections have slotted Mendoza going to the organization with the No. 1 overall pick. Barring a trade, the Raiders will select Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

Since Brady has been at the top of the NFL for much of the last two decades, he has influenced many up-and-coming quarterbacks trying to reach the NFL. Mendoza discussed Brady's influence on him in a recent edition of the Pat McAfee Show.

"I'm very focused on the draft process..

I've looked up to Tom Brady for a long time"@qb_fernando #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/hIbChLMDqm

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 6, 2026

"He's been a huge football idol of mine. The way that he has processes and systems and the way that he talks about his leadership is always something that has resonated with myself," Mendoza said.

"(He's) a guy that's never been the strongest, never been the biggest, and never been the fastest. However, the way that he prepares and really has a process about going about things and having discipline has inspired myself."

Brady's path to NFL superstardom was not the most desired route. After serving as a backup for Michigan for two seasons, Brady started for the Wolverines in both 1998 and 1999.

In those two seasons, he passed for a combined 4,644 yards, 30 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He was not selected until the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft, falling to the New England Patriots at the No. 199 overall pick.

Prior to the honors, undefeated season, and soon-to-be No. 1 overall draft pick, Mendoza's journey to national prominence was also a less desired route. Mendoza stacked eerily similar numbers to Brady's collegiate numbers in two seasons as a starter at California, tallying 4,712 yards, 30 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.