Indiana Hoosiers Dominate NFL Combine, Mendoza Leads the Way
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The national champion Indiana Hoosiers continue to create history, showcasing a school-record nine players at the NFL’s annual talent evaluation event less than two months after securing their first national championship and achieving college football’s first 16-0 season since the 1890s.
Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner and projected No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, headlined the Hoosiers’ delegation, a significantly larger group than typically attends the combine. Safety Louis Moore, who returned to Indiana after a season at Ole Miss, remarked on the program’s transformation: “It’s amazing, since a couple of years ago, I don’t think we had anyone coming here. So the fact that we have nine here is something special.”
Hoosiers’ Rising Presence at the Combine
Just two years ago, linebacker Aaron Casey was Indiana’s sole representative. Last year, the contingent consisted of quarterback Kurtis Rourke and defensive lineman CJ West. Indiana’s nine attendees trailed only Ohio State (15), Texas and Georgia (14 each), Oregon (12), and Ole Miss and South Carolina (11 each), as well as national runner-up Miami (10). The Hoosiers’ strong incoming transfer class and the return of 2025 Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year Carter Smith signal continued program growth.
Indiana has the potential to break another school record in April: the most players selected in a single NFL Draft. The current record stands at seven players, set in 1976 and matched in 1944. Receiver Elijah Sarratt believes the team’s demanding season has prepared them for the challenges ahead.
“That was the first time I played (16) games in the season, so in a way, I played an NFL season,” Sarratt explained. “But going up against those powers that you come across in the playoffs, starting with Ohio State in the Big Ten championship and then going through Alabama, Oregon, all the way to Miami. Every weekend in the NFL, you’re playing against a great team, a team that wants to win.”
Inspiring Stories and Standout Performances
Texas A&M receiver KC Concepcion used his platform at the combine to share his personal story, hoping to inspire others who struggle with speech impediments. Keep reading