Before Michael Penix Jr. ever became the Atlanta Falcons ’ quarterback, he made an impression on a little-known freshman quarterback at Cal, simply by remembering his name.

Fernando Mendoza – now a Heisman Trophy winner, national champion, and the first-overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders – had a lot of nice things to say about the Falcons’ incumbent starter going back to their shared time in the Pac-12.

The year was 2022, and Fernando Mendoza was the then third-string quarterback for the California Golden Bears. It was his first season as a collegiate athlete, and he was destined for a redshirt season. Michael Penix Jr., meanwhile, had just transferred from the Indiana Hoosiers – ironically, where Mendoza would soon cement his legendary status – to the Washington Huskies that spring.

Penix had already played four collegiate seasons (even though he was named second-team All-Big Ten in 2020 after leading the conference in passing yards per game, with 274.2), but injuries had derailed his Indiana tenure.…