Tag: fernando mendoza

Georgia transfer QB target commits to SEC rival

Georgia football quarterback transfer target Jackson Arnold transfers to an SEC school.

When former Oklahoma Sooner quarterback Jackson Arnold entered the transfer portal, he received a lot of interest from top college football teams, including the Georgia Bulldogs. On3 mentioned to watch out for three teams in particular to recruit him, the Georgia Bulldogs, the Auburn Tigers, and the Mississippi State Bulldogs, who were later considered the favorites to sign him.

In the end, Arnold decided to transfer to the Auburn Tigers. Head coach Hugh Freeze will once again try to develop a transfer portal quarterback .

Arnold may have more potential than Auburn’s most recent starting quarterback, Payton Thorne. Arnold, a former five-star quarterback, had one of the best high-school careers ever out of Denton, Texas. He won the Landry Award (given to the best player in Northern Texas), and the Gatorade National Player of the Year in his senior year at John H. Guyer High School.

However, he still has yet to put it all together in college, with 1,421 yards, 12 touchdowns, and three interceptions. He also took a bunch sacks, but the Sooners dealt with injuries on their offensive line a ton. He also showed flashes of his upside when he ran for 131 yards on 25 carries in Oklahoma’s 24-3 win over Alabama.

The Bulldogs are still on the hunt for a quarterback to replace Beck next year. They’ve talked to a few top names, such as Fernando Mendoza and Deshawn Purdie, but maybe sophomore Gunner Stockton could earn the job in the College Football Playoff or Carson Beck could return.

The Georgia Bulldogs will play Arnold and the Auburn Tigers on Oct. 11th next year.

Wisconsin a top contender to land Cal transfer quarterback, No. 2 QB in portal

Wisconsin could be closing in on its next quarterback

Wisconsin is considered one of the contenders to land Cal transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza, according to On3’s Pete Nakos.

Nakos lists the Badgers among three other top suitors: Georgia, UCLA and Indiana.

Mendoza entered the transfer portal this week after three years at Cal, two as the primary starter. He broke out for a career-best 2024 season, leading the Bears to their second consecutive bowl under head coach Justin Wilcox. Mendoza completed 68.7% of his passes during the campaign for 3,004 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions.

247Sports currently ranks him as a four-star transfer recruit, the No. 9 overall player in the portal and the No. 2 quarterback. He is in the portal with two years of eligibility remaining.

On the surface, Mendoza seems like a perfect fit for the Badgers. The program just welcomed in top-ranked freshman Carter Smith, though will need a few bridge years before he’s ready to start. Mendoza could provide much-needed stability to a position that has seen three different starters in three years — four in four years when 2025 is considered.

Wisconsin is also looking for immediate results under new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes. While the program is moving back to a more pro-style approach, strong play under center remains a requisite to compete at the highest level.

The Badgers’ 2025 schedule defines that ‘highest level.’

Mendoza’s recruitment is worth watching as the Badgers battle several top programs for his commitment. Wisconsin has done well the last two offseason to land a highly-pursued veteran. The Cal transfer could be the next to follow.

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Georgia contenders to land Cal transfer, No. 2 QB in transfer portal

Georgia and three Big Ten schools are contending to land California Bears quarterback Fernando Mendoza

The Georgia Bulldogs are among the top contenders to land a commitment from California Bears quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza is considered a four-star transfer prospect.

247Sports ranks Mendoza as the nation’s second-best quarterback in the transfer portal and the No. 9 overall prospect.

The 6-foot-5, 225-pound sophomore has two years of eligibility left. Mendoza helped California go 6-6 in their first season in the ACC and advance to the LA Bowl.

Mendoza passed for 3,004 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2024. His QBR of 64.2 is ranked No. 53 in the country. Mendoza would bring experience to Georgia’s quarterback room. The sophomore was sacked 41 times this season with Cal and would likely get much better protection at UGA.

He’d compete with Gunner Stockton for the starting role at Georgia. Georgia’s 2023 starter, Carson Beck, suffered an elbow injury in the SEC championship. Beck has one year of eligibility left, but he was expected to enter the 2025 NFL draft prior to his injury.

Indiana, UCLA and Wisconsin are all also contenders to land Mendoza.