The 20th-ranked prospect on my preseason draft board, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, isn’t an “out of nowhere” NFL prospect. He entered the season in the first-round mix and has only helped himself in the eyes of NFL teams since arriving in Bloomington.
That said, his performance in Saturday’s upset win over Oregon was more solid than spectacular — he averaged just 6.9 yards per pass attempt plus fired a fourth-quarter pick six and several off-target throws. But the fact that the Hoosiers could go into a raucous environment like Autzen Stadium and beat the Ducks by double digits without their quarterback being a superhero says a lot about their overall talent level.
Who are the Hoosiers’ other NFL prospects ? Let’s dive in:
WR Elijah Sarratt (fourth-year senior)
Mendoza deserves a lot of credit for eliminating that late interception from his mind and leading Indiana to a go-ahead touchdown on its next possession. To me, though, that was a Sarratt drive. He saw three crucial targets and delivered each time: a third-down pivot route for 13 yards and a first down; an overload screen into Oregon’s zone for 29 yards (all after the catch) and a first down; and an eight-yard touchdown on a third-down back-shoulder throw from the far hash.
At 6 feet 1 3/4 and 210 pounds with 10-inch hands, Sarratt — who followed coach Curt Cignetti to Indiana from James Madison — is a good-sized athlete with competitive ball skills. You can tell he’s a former basketball player because of his current play style, although you’d like to see him be stronger in contested windows. Time will tell what he runs at the combine, but he plays like he has 4.4-second acceleration on film, and his instincts for the position make him a chain-moving monster (79.5 percent of his catches this season have resulted in a first down or touchdown).
Sarratt had mostly “backup” grades from scouts over the summer, but he has been boosting that outlook.
WR Omar Cooper Jr. (fourth-year junior)
Sarratt demands most of the targets in the Indiana offense, but Cooper is an ideal complement in the slot. Two things really stand out on his tape: his catch radius and contact balance. He consistently pulls in balls away from his frame and runs through tackle attempts with finishing toughness (he ranks top 10 nationally this season with 12 forced missed tackles).
Here’s a perfect example of those strengths from the second quarter against Oregon:
Cooper runs a five-yard out from the slot and Mendoza delivers as his target turns to find the football. The throw is high — and likely would be incomplete for most receivers — but Cooper is able to leap, make the catch with one hand and put the ball away while his left arm is tied up with the defender. Cooper then has the focus and balance to brace himself for contact as he’s coming down, breaking the initial tackle. He immediately turns upfield, plants and spins out of a second tackle attempt before diving forward past the sticks.
Given the placement of the throw and proximity of the defenders, Cooper is atop a very short list of college receivers who would be able to turn this play into a first down. He has “Sunday player” written all over him.
LT Carter Smith (fourth-year junior)
The effectiveness of its offensive line has been integral to Indiana’s overall success on that side of the ball. And Smith, now in his third season as the Hoosiers’ starting left tackle, has been the best of the O-line group.
While growing up outside of Columbus, Ohio, in the shadow of the Horseshoe, Smith was on Ohio State’s recruiting radar but the Buckeyes went a different direction. Smith instead signed with Indiana over several Big Ten and SEC programs, then stayed in Bloomington despite numerous schools trying to pry him away the last few years — especially after Indiana’s coaching change following the 2023 season.
With a good-looking frame and lower-body athleticism, Smith does an outstanding job keeping his feet beneath him to square up defenders, extend his arms and use his grip strength to control his man. His pulling/climbing range are strengths, and he shows just enough balance to counter pass rushers on an island, although he can be late at times to drop his anchor versus power.
Smith was at his best against Oregon — zero pressures/sacks allowed, zero penalties and an effective game as a run blocker. He has one year of eligibility remaining, so he’ll have an NFL decision to make after this season. But every time I watch him, I like him more and more, and I know NFL scouts feel the same.
Edge Mikail Kamara (sixth-year senior)
A productive player at James Madison, Kamara was part of a core group of transfers who arrived at Indiana with Cignetti before the 2024 season. He made an immediate impact during his first season in Bloomington (FBS-leading 68 pressures, two more than Abdul Carter). After receiving late-round and PFA grades from scouts, Kamara returned to Bloomington for his sixth season. His production has dipped (21 pressures and 1.0 sack through six games), but his impact was evident on the Oregon tape.
From a scouting perspective, Kamara is very average as a size/speed athlete. However, he has a feel for timing in his rush to catch blockers off balance, and you can tell he has been in this defensive scheme for multiple years. His aggressive hands help him shed blocks and stay free while rushing the passer and playing the run.
Kamara is still viewed as a late-round prospect or potential undrafted free agent. But you can’t help but notice him when watching Indiana’s defense.
LB Aiden Fisher (fourth-year senior)
Another James Madison transfer, Fisher has topped 100 tackles each of the last two seasons and is on pace to do it again in 2025. He was essential to the Hoosiers’ upset in Eugene, with a game-high 13 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Although his average size (6-0 1/4, 232) stands out, Fisher’s speed and instincts stand out even more. At times he plays almost too fast, which can lead to missed tackles, but his play recognition and compete skills make up for it. Perhaps the most impressive part of his scouting report is his intangibles. NFL scouts use phrases like “biggest leader in the program” and “glue of the locker room” to describe his impact.
Fisher was considered a Day 3 projection entering the season, but he is looking more like a fourth-round prospect.
13 tackles, 1.5 sacks & 1.5 TFLs. @theaidenfisher is your B1G Defensive Player of the Week. pic.twitter.com/SZdPLQZ499
— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) October 13, 2025
CB D’Angelo Ponds (third-year junior)
The only third-year player on this list, Ponds began his college career at James Madison, where he started as a true freshman. He has put impressive play on tape for the Hoosiers the last two seasons.
Listed at 5-9, 173, Ponds’ lack of size is tough to overlook. But he doesn’t get bullied at the top of routes, and his competitive mentality allows him to play bigger than he is. He has a natural feel for staying balanced and physical while also avoiding flags in coverage. You don’t see many missed tackles on his tape, either, despite the reality that he’s almost always overmatched in the size department.
Ponds’ ball production numbers are down in 2025 (one interception and one pass breakup), but he is allowing just 52.4 percent completions when targeted. His size will remove him from some draft boards, but I’ll bet there will be several teams interested in Ponds in the top 100.
Other Indiana seniors to watch: FS Louis Moore, RB Roman Hemby, RT Kahlil Benson, C Pat Coogan
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