Alberto Mendoza will follow Curt Cignetti to Indiana.
The quarterback decommitted from James Madison after the head coach left to take the Hoosiers’ job. Less than two weeks later, Mendoza announced he’s joining Cignetti and committing to Indiana.
‼️‼️COMMITTED‼️‼️@CCignettiIU @CoachTSunseri @CoachShanahan_ @IndianaFootball @IndianaTough #IUFB@cchsballcoach @ColumbusFtball @CoachAndresFern @CColumbuspride pic.twitter.com/9u17fzX1Tb
— Alberto Mendoza (@amendoza2024) December 11, 2023
Mendoza also received recent offers from Temple and Florida Atlantic before aligning with Indiana on Monday. The three-star recruit is the No. 85 quarterback from the class of 2024, per 247Sports.
After throwing 34 touchdowns as a junior, Mendoza led Florida’s Columbus High School to its second straight national title with 22 touchdowns this season.
The 6-foot-2 passer was initially slated to join an ascending JMU program that went 11-1 in its second FBS season. Despite missing out on a more marquee bowl matchup due to NCAA eligibility rules, the Dukes will play Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl because not enough teams qualified to fill every bowl game.
Bob Chesney, who is replacing Cignetti in JMU, must repair the program’s quarterback room. Their 2023 starter, Jordan McCloud, entered the transfer portal last week.
Indiana will also have a new QB1 next year. After tossing 15 touchdown passes as a freshman, Brendan Sorsby transferred to Cincinnati.
Before landing Mendoza, the Hoosiers lost their own three-star quarterback recruit when Timothy Carpenter decommitted earlier this month.
Cignetti takes over a team that went 3-8 in Tom Allen’s seventh and final season. The Hoosiers haven’t been ranked since 2020, and they notched their last bowl victory in 1991.