NFL draft prospects from Florida: Our evaluations from high school days

With the 2026 NFL Draft approaching and several players from Florida high schools expected to go in the first round , it's a good time to look backs and see which recruiting evaluations we got right and which ones we got wrong. Francis Mauigoa was a consensus five-star recruit in high school . Carnell Tate and Rueben Bain Jr.

both were five stars recruits. Fernando Mendoza? Not even close to being considered a future No.

1 overall pick. According to 247Sports, there were 133 quarterbacks better than Mendoza in the 2022 class , and 249 better recruits in Florida. USA Today Florida Network recruiting reporter Jon Santucci gave his recollection on the top draft prospects from Florida high schools and what he thought their ceiling would be at the next level.

Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza High school: Columbus (2022 class) USA TODAY Florida Network top 100 rank: N/A What Santucci thought Mendoza's ceiling was: Player who could compete for playing time at the FBS level. HIS WHY: Why Fernando Mendoza's mom inspires him while living with MS I saw Mendoza multiple times in high school and thought he had potential, but there was no way I ever would have predicted the kind of meteoric rise he's had over the past two years. Mendoza had good size, a good enough arm and enough athleticism to be an FBS quarterback.