Fernando Mendoza is expected to be selected No. 1 overall in Thursday’s NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders.
It’s another major moment for an Indiana football program that has been stacking achievements under Curt Cignetti.
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Mendoza became the school’s first Heisman Trophy winner and led the Hoosiers to their first football national championship this past season — despite IU being among the sport’s historic doormats.
OPINION: ‘Gym rat’ Fernando Mendoza is right pick for Raiders – if team is patient
But the standout quarterback will not be the first Indiana player drafted No. 1 overall. Back in 1938, the Cleveland Rams picked IU’s Corbett “Corby” Davis with the top pick.
A fullback at IU, Davis won Chicago Tribune’s Silver Football trophy in 1937, given to the Western Conference most valuable player.
“I don’t know what to say that possibly could show my gratitude,” he told the Tribune. “It’s the greatest honor that ever has come to me. It’s the dream of every Big Ten player. And to think it has come to me! Gee, can you beat that! There were some great athletes among the 10 chosen as candidates for the trophy and I didn’t think I had a chance. Thanks to everybody!”
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Davis rushed 130 times for 417 yards and caught 16 passes for 255 yards. “More important, perhaps, Davis was regarded as the best defensive player on the Indiana squad,” the Tribune reported.
“Corby could crack a line almost as hard as Bronco Nagurski,” former IU teammate Jack Jester told the Lowell Tribune in 1945.
Davis was named Big Ten athlete of the year — the year after Jesse Owens won the award.
Davis told the Chicago Tribune he was hoping to pursue a coaching career.
After going No. 1 in the draft, Davis reportedly was trying to engineer a path to the Detroit Lions rather than play for the cellar-dwelling Rams.
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He played two seasons with the Rams before sitting out the 1940 season to teach and coach. He returned for two more seasons in 1941-42.
“There are a lot of fine points a fellow has to know in pro football,” Davis told the Green Bay Press-Gazette in 1938. “It’s much tougher than college play, but I like it.”
He then enlisted in the Army during World War II and was wounded in France. He was sent to England to recover, where he then proposed a soldier football league, per Stars and Stripes newspaper.
After returning to the U.S., Davis became an official, reffing in the Big Ten and was selected to work the 1957 Rose Bowl between Iowa and Oregon.
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Davis died in 1968 from injuries sustained in a fishing accident. Davis lost his balance on his boat, fell on a branch and ruptured his spleen.
Indiana football highest NFL draft picks in history
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No. 1, Corbett Davis, Cleveland Rams (1938)
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No. 6 Billy Hillenbrand, N.Y. Giants (1944)
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No. 6 Carl Barzilauskas, N.Y. Jets (1974)
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No. 8 Marv Woodson, Baltimore Colts (1964)
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No. 9 Kevin Allen, Philadelphia Eagles (1985)
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No. 10 Eric Moore, N.Y. Giants (1988)
Note: Tom Nowatzke was selected No. 4 overall by the N.Y. Jets in the 1965 AFL draft and Earl Faison went to No. 7 to the San Diego Chargers in the 1961 AFL draft
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fernando Mendoza is IU football’s second NFL Draft No. 1 pick. Who was first?
