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As the eagerly anticipated White House visit for the Indiana Hoosiers draws near, Fernando Mendoza is setting his sights firmly on his new responsibilities. The former Indiana quarterback, recently drafted as the number one overall pick by the Raiders, has a lot on his plate.
When asked about the upcoming visit to the nation’s capital, scheduled for May 11, Mendoza initially expressed that he might have to pass on the opportunity. His reasoning was straightforward: he believed the date conflicted with the start of the Raiders’ Organized Team Activities (OTAs), and as a newcomer, he felt it was crucial to prioritize his commitment to the team. “I can’t miss practice,” Mendoza stated, emphasizing the importance of making a good impression as a rookie. “I want to try to best serve my teammates, and I don’t know if that’d be accomplishing that goal.”
However, upon closer inspection of the Raiders’ calendar, Mendoza discovered a pleasant surprise. It turns out that his schedule does indeed allow him to join his former teammates for the prestigious visit to the White House, without missing any practice sessions. This revelation means Mendoza can partake in the celebration of his collegiate achievements while still fulfilling his professional obligations.
“I can’t miss practice. … As a rookie, I don’t think that’s a good look,” he said. “I want to try to best serve my teammates and I don’t know if that’d be accomplishing that goal.”
However, Mendoza admitted that he had to check the Raiders’ calendar, and it actually appears he will be free to attend the White House visit after all.
That’s because the first day of OTAs is on May 18, not May 11 as Mendoza believed.
Nonetheless, the quarterback has been with the Raiders this weekend for rookie minicamp.
“Yesterday I was like, ‘Wow, I have a lot to work on,’” he said. “Everyone here in rookie camp, these are all really, really good players, so I need to elevate my level of play when we go to OTAs [on May 18] and training camp.”
Mendoza helped Indiana produce a historic season in 2025, as the Hoosiers went 16-0 and won the school’s first national championship.
The quarterback, 22, also won the Heisman Trophy and finished the season with 41 passing touchdowns and 3,535 passing yards.
After wrapping up the Raiders’ three-day minicamp on Sunday, he will have a little over two weeks before OTAs begin.