{"id":511,"date":"2026-05-17T15:33:07","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T15:33:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southfloridamovingguides.com\/?p=511"},"modified":"2026-05-17T15:33:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T15:33:07","slug":"2026-nfl-draft-south-floridas-fernando-mendoza-goes-no-1-to-raiders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southfloridamovingguides.com\/?p=511","title":{"rendered":"2026 NFL Draft: South Florida\u2019s Fernando Mendoza goes No. 1 to Raiders"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

PITTSBURGH \u2014 The countdown is on for the 2026 NFL Draft, with hundreds of players \u2014 including several South Florida standouts \u2014 set to hear their names called Thursday night in Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n

Read more Brass bands in Beijing make way for sticker shock at home as Trump returns to escalating inflation<\/a><\/p>\n

Leer en espa\u00f1ol<\/p>\n

Fernando Mendoza, a former Indiana Hoosiers star and standout at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, was selected first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders following a Heisman Trophy-winning, national championship season. <\/p>\n

The 22-year-old quarterback has remained in South Florida in recent days and is expected to celebrate the moment with family in Coral Gables rather than attend the draft in person.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe last five months has been such a blessing by God. I can\u2019t thank Him enough. I\u2019m looking forward to getting to work,\u201d Mendoza told ESPN after being drafted. \u201cCollege was fantastic. I\u2019m so blessed to have that career. Now i step into a great game into the NFL. Looking forward to proving and earning it every single day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mendoza\u2019s family had nothing but positive things to say about his work ethic when speaking to Local 10 News. <\/p>\n

Read more Dolphins select Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor with No. 12 pick in 2026 NFL Draft<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cOh this is so very exciting. We\u2019re so proud of him,\u201d said Enrique Espino, Mendoza\u2019s great-uncle. \u201cHe followed the mother\u2019s advice and the father\u2019s restrictions and conditions — everyone is excited about him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Police have blocked off a portion of the street for a private party that soon will be filled with celebration. <\/p>\n

Plenty of friends and neighbors sharing pride in Mendoza\u2019s hard work and dedication.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re a really nice family. We\u2019re all just thrilled they\u2019re happy,\u201d said Michael Brown, Mendoza\u2019s neighbor.<\/p>\n

Read more Hurricanes star trio hear names called on Day 1 of 2026 NFL Draft<\/a><\/p>\n

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The countdown is on for the 2026 NFL Draft, with hundreds of players \u2014 including several South Florida standouts \u2014 set to hear their names called Thursday night in Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":510,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-511","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n2026 NFL Draft: South Florida\u2019s Fernando Mendoza goes No. 1 to Raiders - South Florida Moving Guides<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/southfloridamovingguides.com\/?p=511\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"2026 NFL Draft: South Florida\u2019s Fernando Mendoza goes No. 1 to Raiders - 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