Mendoza's Grind: NFL Draft's Unseen Star

0:00It's April 21st, I'm Cory with the story, and this is California News Today, your AI-powered local news. Fernando Mendoza's rise is straight fire in this NFL draft class. Dude was an overlooked high school quarterback headed to Yale before landing a Cal scholarship. Fast forward, he transfers to Indiana, drops a Heisman trophy season, wins a national title, and now he's the top pick waiting to happen. His old Cal roommate, Titan Jack Andrews, spotted that winner's edge right away back in 2022. They grind extra reps after practice, staying till 9 p.m. while everyone else bounced at 3. Andrews knew Mendoza had the leadership and dog mentality to flip the script. Mendoza joins a pack of draft over achievers defying the odds. Take Diego Pavia, Heisman runner up at 5 foot 10, who climbed from junior college to SEC contender. When there's walk-ons like Wisconsin's, Riley Noah Kowski turning Titan in injuries himself, who went from lay bloomer to Texas starter.

1:02These stories echo NFL legends, think Drew Brees slinging over 80,000 yards despite height knocks, or JJ Wat and Clay Matthews going from, walk-ons to first round beasts. Last year, UCLA walk on Carson Schwessinger snagged defensive rookie of the year with the Browns. These drafts loaded with chips on shoulders, proving hard work, trumps hype every time. Mendoza's leading the charge, ready to cash in on years of unseen grind.