Fernando Mendoza on His Single Status: Why He's Staying Focused on Football

On draft night, all eyes will be on quarterback Fernando Mendoza as the Las Vegas Raiders prepare to make the first overall selection. The 22-year-old Indiana Hoosiers standout is widely expected to hear his name called this evening (April 23).

But beyond his football credentials, fans may be curious about his personal life. The question of whether Mendoza is dating has a straightforward answer—and he's explained his reasoning before.

In comments from 2024 that have recently circulated online, Mendoza laid out his philosophy on relationships during this critical phase of his career. "I know myself…[I] can make it to the NFL," he said at the time. "And I believe that I will make it to the NFL. However, at this point, I've gotta limit all distractions."

The quarterback specifically cited romantic relationships as a potential obstacle. "Especially with the girls, it can be very distracting," he noted. "You might find your first love in college, and stuff like that, but…I'm going to give everything my all, so if I have a girlfriend, I'm going to give her my all."

Mendoza elaborated on what that commitment would entail. "That means, I'm gonna go back from 6 to 9 [p.m.] just to hang out with her, maybe get dinner or something, rather than maybe picking up dinner on the way back from class and watching extra film for the game week," he explained.

His conclusion was clear: "So, if I have a girlfriend, I'm going to give her my all."

For now, Mendoza appears to be channeling that dedication entirely toward his football career as he enters the professional ranks.