Indiana Football Makes Program History with Fernando Mendoza, Ponds, Cooper NFL Draft Picks
The Indiana Hoosiers achieved a program first months after lifting a national title.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. and cornerback D'Angelo Ponds all went within the first 50 picks of the 2026 NFL draft. Indiana had never had three players taken in the first two rounds of the draft before.
The Hoosiers also saw wide receiver Elijah Sarratt fly off the board Saturday to the Baltimore Ravens.
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Mendoza was a lock to go first overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. Cooper and Ponds were a little harder to forecast. They ranked 22nd and 27th, respectively, on the Bleacher Report big board.
The New York Jets took Cooper with the No. 30 pick, while Ponds will join him in the Big Apple after the Jets selected him 50th.
The Hoosiers also had running back Kaelon Black (No. 90), wide receiver Elijah Sarratt (No. 115) and tight end Riley Nowakowski (No. 169) come off the board.
Winning a College Football Playoff championship obviously makes a good sales pitch for prospective recruits. Having a pair of first-rounders will further boost coach Curt Cignetti's ability to attract talent to Bloomington.
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