Quarterback Expectations in a New Season
As the college football season kicks off, Georgia Tech quarterback Alberto Mendoza and Colorado signal-caller Julian “JuJu” Lewis have emerged as focal points for fans and analysts. Both players enter the year carrying significant weight, balancing personal development with the scrutiny that accompanies high-profile NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) valuations and future NFL draft ambitions.
Mendoza, the brother of Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza, arrived at Georgia Tech as a transfer from Indiana to secure the starting role. Lewis, meanwhile, enters his second season under Colorado head coach Deion Sanders. Despite their different career paths, both quarterbacks are currently linked by their high-profile status in the NIL market.
This report draws on information published by heavy.com and glorycolorado.com.
NIL Valuations and NFL Draft Outlook
According to data from On3, Julian Lewis holds a projected NIL value of $1 million, with active partnerships including Taco Bell and JLab Audio. Estimates for Mendoza’s NIL value vary; while The NIL Standard has projected his value as high as $1.8 million, analysts caution that these figures are often speculative.
On the field, the path to the professional level remains a long-term objective for both. Lewis, who is not eligible for the NFL draft until 2028, is currently viewed as a potential fifth-round pick by the NFL Mock Draft Database. Mendoza, a redshirt sophomore, is currently projected to go undrafted in the 2027 NFL draft, though his development as a starter at Georgia Tech will be the primary driver of his stock moving forward.
Coach Prime’s Strategy for Lewis
Head coach Deion Sanders has been clear about his expectations for Lewis in 2026. Rather than tasking the 18-year-old with the burdens of veteran leadership, Sanders has urged Lewis to focus on his role as a distributor. Drawing a parallel to NBA legend Magic Johnson, Sanders emphasized that he wants Lewis to facilitate playmaking for the talent around him.
“I don’t need my quarterback to lead us,” Sanders told reporters at Big 12 Media Days, as reported by CBS Sports. “I need my quarterback to do what we ask him to do. He’s 18, and we’re asking an 18-year-old kid to lead a locker room full of men; that’s not fair to him.”
As the season progresses, the ability of these two quarterbacks to translate potential into consistent on-field performance will define their trajectories. For Lewis, the task is to refine his decision-making within Sanders’ system, while Mendoza aims to establish himself as a reliable leader in the ACC.