By Luke Fletcher ｜ Atlanta, Georgia

While Georgia Tech enters 2026 without longtime starter Haynes King, the Yellow Jackets are far from starting over at quarterback.

The biggest offseason addition came through the transfer portal when Georgia Tech landed former Indiana quarterback Alberto Mendoza, one of the more intriguing young signal-callers in college football. Mendoza arrives in Atlanta after spending two seasons with the Indiana Hoosiers, where he served as the primary backup to his older brother, Heisman Trophy winner and national championship quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

Despite limited opportunities behind one of the nation’s best quarterbacks, Mendoza flashed significant upside whenever he stepped on the field. During Indiana’s 2025 national championship season, he completed 18-of-24 passes (75%) for 286 yards and five touchdowns while adding 190 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.

What makes Mendoza such an intriguing fit in Brent Key’s offense is his dual-threat ability. At 6-foot-2 and over 200 pounds, he possesses the athleticism to extend plays, create explosive runs, and operate designed quarterback run concepts that have been a staple of Georgia Tech’s offense in recent seasons. His efficiency as a passer and willingness to push the ball downfield also fit what offensive coordinator George Godsey wants from the position.

The coaching staff’s confidence in Mendoza became increasingly clear throughout spring practice. By the conclusion of spring camp, Brent Key publicly stated, “Alberto is the guy,” while Mendoza was named offensive captain for the Yellow Jackets’ spring game. ESPN later reported that he had established himself as the clear favorite to win the starting job entering summer workouts.

Mendoza’s background also suggests there may be more untapped potential than his statistics currently show. Coming out of Miami’s Christopher Columbus High School, he led the program to back-to-back state championships while throwing for more than 4,500 career yards and 57 touchdowns. Some recruiting analysts believed he was one of the more underrated quarterbacks in the 2024 recruiting cycle before ultimately signing with Indiana.

For Georgia Tech, the quarterback transition now looks far different than it did immediately following the departures of Haynes King and Aaron Philo. Instead of handing the offense to an inexperienced quarterback room, the Yellow Jackets added a player who has developed inside a national championship program, learned behind a Heisman Trophy winner, and arrives with three years of eligibility remaining.

The 2026 season may still represent a new era at quarterback for Georgia Tech, but thanks to Alberto Mendoza, it doesn’t have to be a rebuilding year. It may simply be the next evolution of the position under Brent Key.