Spotlight Can a new Heisman program empower the next generation of youth sports? STEPHEN BORELLI USA Today May 5, 2026 May 5, 2026 × SNTV Heisman-winning QB Fernando Mendoza puts on impressive show at Indiana's biggest Pro Day Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save BOSTON — The value of a captain to a team, just like the value of sports in one’s life, can be understated and overlooked.kAmw6:D>2? 2?5 E96 pDA6? x?DE:EFE6 2C6 4@>3:?:?8 7@C46D :? 2? 677@CE E@ 6I6>A=:7J E96 G:CEF6D @7 3@E9 24C@DD 9:89 D49@@= 2E9=6E:4D]k^AmkAmp ?6H ?2E:@?2= :?:E:2E:G6 2:>D E@ 56G6=@A 9:89 D49@@= E62> 42AE2:?D :?E@ 4:G:4 =6256CD Q42A23=6 @7 5C:G:?8 492?86Q :? E96:C E62>D[ D49@@=D 2?5 4@>>F?:E:6D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 C6=62D6 D92C65 H:E9 &$p %@52J $A@CED]k^AmkAm%96 pDA6? x?DE:EFE6 r2AE2:?D {6256CD9:A p4256>J H:== AC@G:56 2E9=6E6\=6256CD H:E9 EC2:?:?8[ >6?E@CD9:A 2?5 E@@=D E@ Q255C6DD C62=\H@C=5 492==6?86D — 7C@> 2446DD E@ J@FE9 DA@CED E@ >6?E2= 962=E9 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ H6==\36:?8]Qk^Am People are also reading… Geneva Lakes Family YMCA eyeing Townline Road site for new campus Lake Geneva considers property for police and fire station Lake Geneva approves conceptual plans for Hillmoor area Simple Food Group presents plans for multi-use campus Ridglan Farms beagles: How and when to adopt one in Wisconsin In-state four-star forward chooses Big 12 school over Wisconsin men's basketball Lakeland Players presenting classic musical ‘Into the Woods’ UAW Local 180, CNH Industrial reach tentative labor contract agreement Cruises, a safari, dinner train: Do something different this Mother’s Day in Lake Geneva Racine County decommissions 100-Mile Bike Trail due to safety concerns Evers, Republican leaders agree to $1.8 billion deal on school funding, tax rebates Police identify body found along shoreline in Wind Point as missing man Walworth County offering Stepping On program through June New wave of ICE deployments could impact more than 40 states 12 potential candidates to become Wisconsin athletic director kAm“%96 24256>J DA62<D 5:C64E=J E@ E96 A@E6?E:2= :>A24E @7 J@FE9 DA@CED A2CE:4:A2E:@? @? p>6C:42? D@4:6EJ[” D2:5 ':?46?E |:?;2C6D[ AC@8C2> >2?286C @7 E96 pDA6? x?DE:EFE6 $A@CED U2>Aj $@4:6EJ !C@8C2>] “x>AC@G:?8 E96 =6256CD9:A 23:=:EJ @7 DA@CED 42AE2:?D DEC6?8E96?D E96 BF2=:EJ @7 E96 DA@CED 6IA6C:6?46 @7 E96>D6=G6D 2?5 E96:C E62>>2E6D[ H9:=6 2=D@ 724:=:E2E:?8 E96 EC2?D76C @7 DA@CED\32D65 =6256CD9:A 56G6=@A>6?E W@7X 7FEFC6 42C66CD 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ :>A24E]”k^AmkAmpDA6?’D !C@;64E !=2J[ H9:49 :D <?@H? 7@C DEF5J:?8 DA@CED A2CE:4:A2E:@? :? 4@>>F?:E:6D 2?5 :?:E:2E:?8 D@=FE:@?D E@ E96 32CC:6CD E@ 2446DD E@ :E[ H:== AC@G:56 E96 AC@8C2>>:?8 H:E9 DFAA@CE 7C@> w6:D>2?]k^Am kAmw6:D>2?[ E9C@F89 E96 w6:D>2? u@F?52E:@?[ H:== D6CG6 2D 7@F?5:?8 A2CE?6C E9C@F89 E96 =2C86DE D:?8=6 8C2?E :? :ED 9:DE@CJ DFAA@CE:?8 J@FE9 56G6=@A>6?E E9C@F89 DA@CED 2?5 65F42E:@?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 C6=62D6]k^Am Fans pose with a Heisman Trophy at the NFL Scouting Combine Experience in Indianapolis. Kirby Lee, Imagn Images kAmp ?F>36C @7 w6:D>2? %C@A9J H:??6CD[ :?4=F5:?8 %:> qC@H? 2?5 r92C=:6 (2C5[ 92G6 6IAC6DD65 :?E6C6DE :? A2CE:4:A2E:?8 :? E96 AC@8C2>[ 244@C5:?8 E@ y677 !C:46[ w6:D>2?’D rt~]k^AmkAm“(6VC6 96C6 E@ DFAA@CE[ E@ 96=A 3F:=5 :E 2?5 E@ >2<6 DFC6 E92E H6 92G6 2446DD E@ E96 H:??6CD[” !C:46 D2:5] “(6 H2?E E9:D E@ 36 D@>6E9:?8 E92E :D?’E W8@:?8X E9C@F89 E96 >@E:@?D 2?5 J@F H2=< 2H2J H:E9 2 46CE:7:42E6] %9:D D9@F=5 36 2 C62= =6256CD9:A 56G6=@A>6?E 4@9@CE E92E 86ED 3F:=E]”k^Am kAmw6C6’D >@C6 23@FE E96 :?:E:2E:G6[ 2?5 H92E :E >:89E >62? 7@C J@F 2?5 J@FC 72>:=Jik^Amk9am(92E :D E96 pDA6? x?DE:EFE6nk^9am kAm%96 pDA6? x?DE:EFE6 :D 2 8=@32= ?@?AC@7:E @C82?:K2E:@? 56D:8?65 E@ :8?:E6 9F>2? A@E6?E:2= 2?5 3F:=5 F?56CDE2?5:?8] !C@;64E !=2J[ E96 D:8?2EFC6 :?:E:2E:G6 @7 :ED $A@CED U2>Aj $@4:6EJ !C@8C2>[ EC:6D E@ 3F:=5 962=E9J 4@>>F?:E:6D E9C@F89 DA@CED]k^AmkAm!C@;64E !=2J’D 8@2= :D E@ 86E ebT J@FE9 DA@CED A2CE:4:A2E:@? 3J a_b_] #:89E ?@H[ :E :D 2C@F?5 ddT]k^Am k9am(92E :D w6:D>2?nk^9am kAm%96 w6:D>2? %C@A9J 92D 366? 2H2C565 E@ 4@==686 7@@E32==VD E@A A=2J6C 6G6CJ J62C D:?46 `hbd] %96 w6:D>2? u@F?52E:@?[ E96 ?@?AC@7:E 492C:E23=6 2C> @7 w6:D>2?[ 92D >256 Sb_ >:==:@? :? 8C2?ED E@ J@FE9 DA@CED AC@8C2>D @G6C E96 =2DE 564256[ 244@C5:?8 E@ !C:46]k^Am kAm“(:E9 8C2?ED[ J@F H2?E E@ >2<6 DFC6 E92E J@FVC6 23=6 E@ EC24< E96 :>A24E E92E J@FVC6 92G:?8[ E96 =:G6D E92E 2C6 492?865 2?5 F=E:>2E6=J 36 23=6 E@ E6== E96 DE@C:6D @7 E9@D6 E92E 2C6 >2<:?8 2 5:776C6?46[Q w6:D>2?VD rt~ D2:5] Qp?5 E92E :D[ x E9:?<[ 7@C FD[ E96 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 H92E H6 42? 5@ H:E9 @FC H:??6CD H9@ :?DA:C6 D@ >2?J] p?5 E96? H92E H6 42? 86E 324< E@ 4@>>F?:E:6D[ 4C62E6 7FEFC6 =6256CD[ H9:49 2C6 D@ ?66565 :? DA@CE]k^Am kAm“$A@CED :D 2 G69:4=6 E9C@F89 H9:49 H6 42? >2<6 2 5:776C6?46 2?5 EC2:? E96> E@ 364@>6 =6256CD]”k^Amk9amw@H 5@6D E96 r2AE2:?D {6256CD9:A p4256>J H@C<nk^9amkAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 C6=62D6[ QA2CE:4:A2?ED H:== 6?8286 :? D6>:?2C\DEJ=6 =62C?:?8[ 2446DD 5:8:E2= =6256CD9:A E@@=D[ 2?5 4@?EC:3FE6 E@ 4@>>F?:EJ\32D65 AC@;64ED E92E 3F:=5 D<:==D :? 4@==23@C2E:@?[ 2?5 AC@3=6>\D@=G:?8]Qk^Am kAm%96 r6?E6C 7@C #:D:?8 v6?6C2E:@?D H:== 96=A 8F:56 E96 56G6=@A>6?E @7 E96 AC@8C2>[ H9:=6 x|v p4256>J H:== 2??F2==J 4@?G6?6 42AE2:?D H9@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? E96 r2AE2:?D {6256CD9:A p4256>J @? :ED qC256?E@?[ u=@C:52[ 42>AFD 2?5 AC@G:56 EC2:?:?8 2?5 56G6=@A>6?E E@@=D]k^Am kAm%96 r2AE2:?D {6256CD9:A p4256>J H:== =2F?49 E9:D J62C H:E9 A:=@E AC@8C2>D :? D6=64E DE2E6D 2?5 A=2?D E@ >2<6 C6D@FC46D 2446DD:3=6 E@ D49@@=D[ 42AE2:?D 2?5 4@2496D ?2E:@?2==J]k^AmkAm|:?;2C6D D2:5 E96 AC@8C2> H:== =62? @? $6CG:46 {62C?:?8 E9C@F89 $A@CED[ 2 J@FE9\7@4FD65 DFAA@CE AC@8C2> E92E 6>A@H6CD 9:89 D49@@= DEF56?ED E@ 56G6=@A DA@CED\7@4FD65 AC@;64ED :? E96:C D49@@=D 2?5 4@>>F?:E:6D]k^Am k9amw@H >2?J 42AE2:?D H:== 36 D6=64E65n w@H >2?J <:5D H:== 36 :>A24E65nk^9am kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ |:?;2C6D[ 677@CED :? a_ae H:== 7@4FD @? 42AE2:? D6>:?2CD :? 2 QD>2== ?F>36C @7 E2C86E 9:89 D49@@=D 367@C6 D42=:?8 2?5 6IA2?5:?8 :? a_af E@ >@C6 D49@@=D[ 255:E:@?2= @?=:?6 A2E9H2JD 2?5 DFAA@CE 7@C 4:G:4 6?8286>6?E AC@;64ED]Qk^AmkAmw6 D2:5 677@CED H:== 36 >256 E@ C6249 2D >2?J D49@@=D 2?5 DEF56?ED 2D A@DD:3=6]k^Amk9amw@H H:== pDA6? 2?5 w6:D>2? C6249 E96 2E9=6E6\=6256CDnk^9amkAm|:?;2C6D D2:5 E96 E96 :?:E:2= 7@4FD @? :?\D49@@= 42AE2:? D6>:?2CD H:== FD6 2 ?6EH@C< @7 pDA6?\EC2:?65 724:=:E2E@CD] ~G6C E:>6[ E96 :?E6?E:@? :D E@ 8C@H E96 ?6EH@C< @7 724:=:E2E@CD E@ :?4=F56 D49@@= =6256CD9:A 2?5 E96 DEF56?E 42AE2:?D E96>D6=G6D] k^Am kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 C6=62D6[ E96 w6:D>2? u@F?52E:@? H:== 2=D@ 96=A 8F:56 :ED 56G6=@A>6?E 2?5 6=6G2E6 A2CE:4:A2?ED E9C@F89 >6?E@CD9:A @AA@CEF?:E:6D 2?5 4@??64E:@?D E@ w6:D>2? %C@A9J H:??6CD]k^Am k9am(9@ :D 6=:8:3=6n w@H 5@ <:5D 86E ?@>:?2E65 @C 2AA=Jnk^9amkAm%96 r2AE2:?D {6256CD9:A p4256>J AC@8C2> H:== AC:>2C:=J E2C86E 3@JD 2?5 8:C=D 286D `c 2?5 FA H9@ 2C6 4FCC6?E @C 2DA:C:?8 E62> DA@CED 42AE2:?D :? 9:89 D49@@= DA@CED] |:?;2C6D D2:5 pDA6? H:== H@C< H:E9 A2CE?6CD[ :?4=F5:?8 D49@@= 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ @C82?:K2E:@?D[ E@ 6DE23=:D9 DA64:7:4 6=:8:3:=:EJ 4C:E6C:2] k^Am k9am(:== E96 24256>J AC@G:56 4@==686 @AA@CEF?:E:6Dnk^9am kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 C6=62D6[ E96 w6:D>2? u@F?52E:@? H:== =625 E96 56G6=@A>6?E 2?5 6I64FE:@? @7 2 ?6H w6:D>2? w:89 $49@@= A=2E7@C> :?DA:C65[ 2E =62DE :? A2CE[ 3J E96 w:89 $49@@= w6:D>2? AC@8C2>[ H9:49 C2? 7C@> `hhc–a_ac]k^AmkAm%92E AC@8C2> 2H2C565 `__ D49@=2CD9:AD A6C J62C Wd_ 3@JD 2?5 d_ 8:C=DX H:E9 EH@ ?2E:@?2= H:??6CD 86EE:?8 Sd[___]__ D49@=2CD9:AD] k^AmkAm“(6 H:== C64C62E6 H92E x H@F=5 D2J :D E96 >@56C? G6CD:@? @7 E96 w:89 $49@@= w6:D>2? AC@8C2> 7@C ’af 2?5 36J@?5[” $4@EE D2:5] “qFE E92EVD DE:== :? E96 H@C<D @7 56G6=@A>6?E[ 3FE :E :D 46CE2:?=J 2 4@>>:E>6?E E92E H6VG6 >256 E@ pDA6? E92E H6 H2?E E@ C64C62E6 :E 2?5 3F:=5 :E[ 3FE :? A2CE?6CD9:A H:E9 E96>]”k^Am kAm$2:5 |:?;2C6Di Q(6 C6>2:? @A6? E@ 6IA=@C:?8 E96 >2?J 5:G6CD6 H2JD E92E E9:D AC@8C2> 42? :>AC@G6 =:G6D 2?5 @A6? @AA@CEF?:E:6D]Q k^Am Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Heisman-winning QB Fernando Mendoza puts on impressive show at Indiana's biggest Pro Day Heisman-winning QB Fernando Mendoza puts on impressive show at Indiana's biggest Pro Day Watch Now: Related Video Wizards Win Draft Lottery To Capture No.1 Pick How will Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn returning impact the Brewers? How will Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn returning impact the Brewers? FILE: Donald Trump admits he ‘wouldn’t pay’ high World Cup ticket prices FILE: Donald Trump admits he ‘wouldn’t pay’ high World Cup ticket prices Which Player Has Won The Most WNBA Championships? Which Player Has Won The Most WNBA Championships? Watch Now: Related Video Wizards Win Draft Lottery To Capture No.1 Pick How will Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn returning impact the Brewers? How will Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn returning impact the Brewers? FILE: Donald Trump admits he ‘wouldn’t pay’ high World Cup ticket prices FILE: Donald Trump admits he ‘wouldn’t pay’ high World Cup ticket prices Which Player Has Won The Most WNBA Championships? Which Player Has Won The Most WNBA Championships?
Heisman-winning QB Fernando Mendoza puts on impressive show at Indiana's biggest Pro Day Heisman-winning QB Fernando Mendoza puts on impressive show at Indiana's biggest Pro Day
