The quarterback situation for Cal is currently a tight competition. Quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza and Chandler Rogers are eyeing the starting spot atop Cal football entering the 2024 season. We’ll see who comes out on top, but all signs point to Mendoza as the starter for now.
The redshirt sophomore from Miami enters this season with experience and is poised to make a splash. We already know that Jaydn Ott will torch defenses on the ground. Yet if Mendoza can stay consistent in the passing game, then this offense will be lethal. The young quarterback has a lot to prove this season and I break down his career in this player spotlight.
Fernando Mendoza Career and Cal Football
Not every player was a highly touted prospect coming out of high school. Many players come from humble beginnings and work hard to get where they are today. Mendoza is no different.
Mendoza transferred to Columbus High School during his sophomore year and didn’t play until three-quarters of the way through the season. His high school career was good, but he wasn’t playing like a top-ranked prospect, either. There weren’t many schools interested in the young quarterback besides Cal and Yale, and he decided to commit to Cal in 2022.
Mendoza was recruited by former Cal offensive coordinator, Bill Musgrave.
In reality, it’s tough when the person who recruited you gets fired after your first season. Mendoza would play his freshman season as a redshirt and could have transferred. However, he decided to stick around, and started last season third on the depth chart.
It was tough sledding for the quarterbacks ahead of him last season, and that’s when the Bears decided to make a change. And to be honest, the decision to start Mendoza probably saved head coach Justin Wilcox’s job. It’s no coincidence that once Mendoza took over, the offense started to put points on the board.
Big Expectations
There are big expectations when it comes to being the starting quarterback for the California Golden Bears. A university that has its locker room named after Aaron Rodgers surely exemplifies a tradition of great quarterback play. Now is the time for Mendoza to meet expectations and put himself in that tier of great Cal quarterbacks.
Mendoza doesn’t need to shatter records or be the next Rodgers – or even Jared Goff. This offense just needs consistent play from its quarterback. If Mendoza can do that, then the sky’s the limit.
Last season, the offense averaged around 30 points per game when Mendoza became the starter. What’s interesting is that the Golden Bears were able to generate points without the young quarterback being the focal point.
Mendoza provided consistent play while throwing for 14 touchdowns and 1,708 yards in just eight games.
We all know that when a quarterback is near the bottom of the depth chart they receive limited reps in practice. For Mendoza to come in and play that well is all the more impressive. If he can hover around 220-230 passing yards per game and elevate his touchdown to interception ratio, then Cal just might take the next step and propel themselves as a contender in the ACC.
Conclusion
It’s not easy playing quarterback for a Division I program that requires high academic standards in the classroom and high performance on the field. Being the starting quarterback is much more than just wins and losses. It takes a real leader on and off the field to have long-term success.
Mendoza is entering this season as a redshirt sophomore with the chance to carve out a nice career at Berkeley. His play needs to be consistent and show signs of continuous improvement. With the competition in the room, he doesn’t have much leeway for mistakes.
Not too often does a quarterback standing at 6-feet 5-inches with his intangibles walk through the door. It should be fun to see how he develops this season and if he can solidify himself as a legit starter in the next few years.
Cody Henderson
I root for teams that only let me down. Talking all things Las Vegas Raiders and Cal Bears football. Follow me on X where I post my dramatic takes.