“Staying genuine,” he explained of what he remembers most. “All the wisdom, while it might be helpful, may not apply to you, so make sure you get that wisdom, but at the same time, apply it to your process and see what works for you.”

And what works best for Mendoza is staying close to his team, as he highlighted in his acceptance speech at the ESPYs.

“Football is a team sport and although this award has a name, it belongs to many people,” he shared on stage during the ceremony. “I want to say a huge thank you to my family, my coaches, my beloved Hoosier Nation, and most importantly of all of them, my beloved teammates. I love you, I appreciate everything, guys. [have] made by me.”

—Reports by Nikaline McCarley