How Fernando Mendoza’s Shocking NFL Draft Journey Defied All Odds
“Hey, this kid’s tough, man,” Ryals said to Zeigler on the sideline.
In another game, Mendoza delivered a dart to a receiver running a slant pattern over the middle.
“Did you see that? Ryals gushed to Zeigler. “He hit the kid coming out of his break in stride.”
Then came the naked quarterback bootleg that Ryals begged Zeigler not to call.
“Oh lord, Johnny, he’s not the fastest kid,” Ryals remembers saying.
“The play is wide open,” responded Zeigler. “Give him a shot.”
When Mendoza snapped the ball, he faked a handoff to get the opposing defense flowing toward his running back. That afforded him just enough space to roll out to the opposite side of the field and scamper around the edge for a 20-plus-yard touchdown run.

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