Cal Football: Mike Bloesch Encouraged by QB Competition in Early Spring Practices

Fernando Mendoza and Chandler Rogers should help each other improve, the Bears' offensive coordinator says.

Toward the end of Cal’s second practice of the spring on Wednesday morning, quarterback Fernando Mendoza ran a keeper around left end, turned the corner and accelerated in attention-grabbing fashion.

No one caught him as he sprinted down the sideline.

Asked a few minutes later if Mendoza has improved his speed since the fall, offensive coordinator Mike Bloesch answered decisively.

“Oh, for sure. He’s definitely faster and stronger,” Bloesch said. “But that’s a testament to how he works. Nobody ever says anything bad about the way Fernando works.”

Mendoza, who took over the starting QB assignment in Week 6 last fall, will need to keep working to hone his game after the Bears brought in North Texas transfer Chandler Rogers, who is providing legitimate competition.

Bloesch echoed head coach Justin Wilcox’s remarks by confirming that Mendoza is the Bears’ starter. Mendoza passed for 1,708 yards with 14 TDs last season, showing great potential at times but his inexperience in other moments.

Rogers played 36 college football games, thrown 920 passes for 7,096 yards with 53 touchdowns during three seasons at Louisiana-Monroe and North Texas.

“He’s played so much football and has a ton of experience and the competition between him and Fernando is going to be huge, elevating both of their games,” Bloesch said. “At the end of the day, that’s what we want. We want guys feeling like there’s somebody trying to take your job.”

The experience level the Bears have at the position this season is night and day different than a year ago. Entering the 2023 season, Mendoza was viewed as the third-stringer and had never played in a college game. Presumed starter Sam Jackson V had thrown six passes in mop-up duty at TCU and Ben Finley had seen action in eight games at North Carolina State.

All three got chances last season, with Mendoza eventually securing the job. After the season, Jackson and Finley transferred.

By comparison, the Bears now feel like they have two capable, experienced players at the position.

Bloesch said the plan is to let this competition play out.

“Just like we do at every position, we’ll evaluate that at end of spring,” he said, “and if we feel like there’s a clear-cut difference and we need to do that and speak on one side or the other of it . . . but right now we’re just letting both of those guys get reps and see how good that room can get.”

The Bears will take a break from spring ball on Thursday while conducting their annual Pro Day. Practice resumes Friday with the players in pads for the first time.

Cover photo of Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza by Robert Edwards, USA Today

Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo