Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders
Last season, Fernando Mendoza led the Indiana University Hoosiers to their first-ever national championship in football. He also won the Heisman Trophy, given to the most outstanding college player each year. Indiana's turnaround story captured the nation's attention; IU had been the worst college football team in history until Coach Curt Cignetti came two years ago. With all of the attention on the Hoosiers and with his stellar play, Fernando was on TV very often. And with every interview – whether after an IU victory or during the week leading up to a game — Mendoza made sure to give glory to God.
But Fernando's faith is not limited to a tagline. He prayed with teammates and remained devoted to his family throughout his storybook run to the title. By all accounts, he has remained humble while continuing to thank God for the opportunities he has been given. It will be exciting to see how Fernando's career continues at the NFL level. It seems clear, though, that his faith will keep him grounded through whatever comes along.
