Colt Mendoza

Colt Mendoza

No. 27 – Dallas Birddogs
Position:	CB
Personal information
Born:	(2015-11-08)November 8, 2015 (aged 45) Brockton, MT
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:	Brockton High School
College:	University of Wyoming
ISFL Draft:	2037  / Round: 1 / Pick: 1
DSFL Draft:	2036  / Round: 19 / Pick: 3
Career history
Dallas Birddogs (2036 (S21)–2037 (S22)) Austin Copperheads (2037 (S22)–present)
Roster status:	Active

Colt Mendoza (born November 8, 2015) is an American football CB for the Dallas Birddogs of the Developmental Simulation Football League (DSFL). He played college football for the University of Wyoming before entering the professional ranks in 2037

Early years

Born in Brockton, Montana to mother Candice and father Viktor, Colt grew up in the countryside of rural Montana working on the family ranch. A two sport athlete for Brockton High School, Mendoza started his athletic career in high school as a goalkeeper for the soccer team because of his size and agility. He was recruited to the football team as a Sophomore with the thought that his athletic skill set on the soccer field would transfer well to the gridiron as a defensive back. He became a full-time starter his junior year and helped guide the Brockton High School football team to the state championship game his Senior year.

College career

Mendoza was heavily recruited by a variety of primarily midwestern programs and narrowed his choice to the University of Colorado, the University of Utah, and the University of Wyoming. After much consideration he chose the University of Wyoming so that he could be close to his family and be able to help out at the ranch during busy seasons.

Mendoza earned his first start halfway through his Freshman year due to injuries in the secondary. He flashed with one interception and solid defense in coverage over two games but was replaced in the line-up upon the return of the eventual starter. He earned a permanent starting job in his Sophomore year. He broke out in his Junior season, helping lead Wyoming to a 10-3 record and flashing pro potential with his nine interceptions on the year.

College career statistics

Career statistics		Tackles		Sacks	Interceptions		Other					Kick Returns			Punt Returns
Season	Games	Reg	TFL	Sack	Int	IntTD	DefTD	FFum	FRec	PD	Safety	Yds	Avg	KR TD	Yds	Avg	PR TD
Freshman	12	30	1	0	3	0	0	0	0	3	0	199	22.1	0	160	11.4	0
Sophomore	12	54	2	0	5	0	0	0	0	9	0	328	23.4	1	203	12.7	0
Junior	13	49	3	1	9	2	2	1	1	7	0	423	24.9	2	203	15.6	0

DSFL Career

2036 Season (S21) - Dallas Birddogs

After being selected with the 147th overall pick in the Season 21 DSFL Draft, Mendoza joined the freshly created Dallas Birddogs. He slotted into the starting conerback role at the beginning of the season and started all fourteen games for the Birddogs, helping them win five games in their inaugural season. Mendoza had a quiet start to the season, posting two tackles in the Birddogs' first win ever in Week 2, but begin to gain momentum with each passing game. He added 7 tackles in a Week 3 loss to the Tijuana Luchadores and another 9 - a season high - in a Week 5 upset of the eventual Ultimini Champion Myrtle Beach Buccaneers. He was awarded the game ball as well in Week 5 in recognition of his great play which included a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a swatted pass. Mendoza picked up his first interception on the year in a win against the London Royals in Week 10.

2037 Season (S22) - Dallas Birddogs

After being drafted first overall in the Season 22 NSFL Draft by the Austin Copperheads, Mendoza was sent back down to the DSFL for another season of development. He was one of several veteran leaders to return to the Dallas Birddogs in hopes of guiding them to an Ultimini.

After the Birddogs acquired cornerbacks Tomage McGullager and Byron Blackwell in the Season 22 DSFL Draft, Mendoza moved to play Nickelback in the Birddogs' Nickel package and outside linebacker in their 3-4 and 4-3 sets. Although he was a bit undersized for the position in comparison to a traditional linebacker, he made up for the lack of size and strength with more speed and agility, allowing him to make impact plays in the middle of the field and secondary. This impact in the middle of the field was reflected in his stat line for the year, as he was second in the league among cornerbacks in tackles with 105 and sixteenth overall. In the Birddogs Week 2 matchup on the road against the Myrtle Beach Buccaneers Mendoza picked up his first professional sack. This early impact in the backfield of opposing teams set the tone for Mendoza's jack-of-all-trades role, as he picked up a sack, two passes defended, and a forced fumble in his first week to go along with his high tackle production. That production reached a peak in the Birddogs' Week 6 matchup at home against the London Royals when Mendoza led the team with 11 tackles. He kept up that production as the season went on, adding another 12 tackles, a sack, and safety in the Birddogs' Week 9 home game against the Myrtle Beach Buccaneers.

At the end of Season 22 he was recognized for his impressive season with a selection to the DSFL Pro-Bowl as well as a nomination for Defensive Back of the Year.

Career statistics			Tackles		Sacks	Interceptions		Other
Team	Season	Games	Reg	TFL	Sack	Int	IntTD	DefTD	FFum	FRec	PD	Safety
DAL	2036 (S21)	14	53	0	0	1	0	0	1	1	7	0
DAL	2037 (S22)	14	105	2	2	0	0	0	1	0	5	1

NSFL career

Pre-draft measurables

Ht	Wt	Arm length	40‑yd dash	20‑ss	3‑cone	Vert jump	Broad	BP	Wonderlic
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	32+1⁄8 in (0.82 m)	4.28 s	4.07 s	7.05 s	31.2 in (0.79 m)	10 ft 11.9 in (3.35 m)	18 reps	20

After his rookie season with the Dallas Birddogs, Mendoza rose up the draft boards and was selected by the Austin Copperheads with the first overall pick in the Season 22 NSFL draft. He's expected to contribute to the locker room and team strategy but has been sent down the DSFL for another year of personal development. In an interview after the draft Mendoza mentioned that he was excited for the opportunity to play for Austin and was honored to have been selected as high as he was. He's ready to help work with the great team and coaching staff to bring more Ultimus glory to Austin.

2038 Season (S23) - Austin Copperheads

Prior to the start of Season 23, Mendoza was called up to the Austin Copperheads to start on the boundary opposite of franchise legend Dermot Lavelle Jr. He flashed talent as boundary corner in his first game - a 37-17 drubbing of the Honolulu Hahalua - with 6 tackles and a pass defense. These tackle numbers were par for the course for Mendoza, as he continued to have games with over 5 tackles for the first part of the season. The pass breakup numbers stayed relatively conservative however, showcasing how even as a former top pick Mendoza was playing cautious and giving opposing receivers room to work. Even though he was securing the tackles, the receivers were making the initial play and picking up yardage for the opposing offense. These early season jitters changed drastically in Week 5, when Mendoza broke out with an impressive game against the San Jose Sabercats. The Copperheads won 35 to 12 with Mendoza netting 5 tackles, 2 pass defenses, and an important interception to help shut the door on San Jose. Mendoza went fairly quiet after that game as the Copperheads slumped in the middle of the season, however he rebounded in a 42 to 16 win against the Colorado Yeti with 8 tackles and two passes defended. Mendoza ended the regular season with only one interception, however he added his second career interception with a clutch pick against the New Orleans Second Line in the wildcard round of the playoffs. He helped seal the win for the Copperheads and thrust them into the ASFC Championship Game.

NSFL Career statistics

Career statistics			Tackles		Sacks	Interceptions		Other
Team	Season	Games	Reg	TFL	Sack	Int	IntTD	DefTD	FFum	FRec	PD	Safety
Copperheads	2038 (S23)	16	89	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	12	0

Achievements and Records

Awards

Team

Individual

S22 DSFL Probowl