BLOOMINGTON — A Heisman frontrunner on the verge of leading his program to its first Big Ten championship game appearance, Fernando Mendoza on Wednesday singled out another one of his behind-the-scenes mentors as crucial to his success this season.

Mendoza — who has routinely praised Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti for his improvement since arriving from Cal — also lauded the importance these last several months of first-year quarterbacks coach Chandler Whitmer.

“I don’t think I can put it in words,” Mendoza said during a lengthy Zoom call, “how much coach Whitmer has meant to me.”

Hired in the winter to replace Tino Sunseri after he left for UCLA, Whitmer came to Indiana boasting an extensive background coaching and collaborating with high-level QBs.

Across college and NFL stops as a graduate assistant, quality control coach and passing game specialist, Whitmer has worked alongside quarterbacks including Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Justin Herbert, Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr.

The Illinois native, Mendoza said, has been crucial to not just his development, but the growth of Indiana’s entire quarterback room.

“He’s been such a blessing, and honestly one of the huge reasons that I’ve been having the season I’ve had so far,” Mendoza said. “It’s been such a blessing for my brother (Alberto) and I, and the entire quarterback room, to have coach Whitmer. … He’s such a great coach.”

Mendoza compared the 34-year-old Whitmer — who played collegiately at Illinois and UConn, as well as in junior college — to Rams coach Sean McVay.

McVay broke through as a position coach and coordinator at the NFL level in his late 20s, and landed the Rams job at 31. He led Los Angeles to victory in Super Bowl LVI.

Mendoza said he sees similar qualities in Whitmer, who he credited for help him with everything from footwork and timing, to mentality and small details.

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So far this season, Mendoza has passed for 2,641 yards, completing 73% of his passes. His 30 passing touchdowns and 35 total touchdowns are both best among Power Four quarterbacks, and he’s second narrowly behind fellow Heisman contender Julian Sayin in passer rating, per CFBStats.com.

“To have him there be my quarterbacks coach and to help have his input in the offense, along with coach Cignetti and (offensive coordinator Mike) Shanahan, coach Whitmer has stepped up above and beyond to help me,” Mendoza said. “It’s still a long journey, a long season to go, and a lot of improvement to do, but to have him has been truly special.”

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