Not only is Jesse Mendez one of the best 138-pounders in the United States, but he's one of the few elite high school wrestlers in the country. The Indiana hammer is currently ranked in the P4P top 10 and #3 on the class of 2022 Big Board.

Mendez is a two-time state champion, was on the 2019 Cadet world team, was a FloNationals champion a year ago, and will compete at Who's #1 on October 3 for the second consecutive year. 

While the NCAA currently has a dead period in place through September 30, the Mendez family is holding out hope to be able to take all five official visits and will likely not make a decision until around this time next year. Mendez projects to start at 141 and could move up to 149 later in his collegiate career.

Jesse Mendez School List (listed in alphabetical order)

Arizona State

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Michigan

Minnesota

Ohio State

Princeton

Purdue

Over the past five recruiting classes, the highest ranked recruit in the the final Senior Big Board of that year did not go to college in Indiana.

2020: #17 Silas Allred - Nebraska

2019: no recruit from Indiana finished in the top 100

2018: #3 Mason Parris - Michigan

2017: #9 Nick Lee - Penn State

2016: #8 Chad Red - Nebraska

Can Indiana or Purdue change the trend and land Mendez? Both the Hoosiers and Boilermakers don't currently have a 141-pounder committed in the class of 2021 or 2022. Parker Filius qualified for the NCAA Championships last year for Purdue at 141 but would graduate by the time that Mendez would arrive in West Lafayette. 

Watch Mendez take out 2020 NC State signee Ryan Jack at Who's #1 in 2019

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In Bloomington, Asa Garcia put together a nice redshirt season going 21-6 and would be a redshirt junior by the time Mendez would get on campus if he chose the Hoosiers. It's important to note that Mendez attends Crown Point High School where Indiana assistant Jason Tsirtsis won four state titles. That isn't the only connection Mendez has with the Tsirtsis family. Former University of Iowa All-American and older brother of Jason, Alex Tsirtsis, was the club coach for Mendez for some time.

Speaking of Iowa, the Hawkeyes are known for having loaded lightweights, and that will be the case in the coming seasons. In the class of 2020, the Hawkeyes signed top 70 recruit Cullan Schriever and four-time Montana state champion Leif Schroeder. If Schriever and Schroeder redshirt this season, they would be redshirt sophomores when Mendez would get on campus in Iowa City if he were to sign with the Hawkeyes.

Watch Mendez beat #15 in the class of 2022, Anthony Ferrari, in the finals of the Cadet World Team Trials

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If Michigan went into Indiana and landed Mendez, it wouldn't be the first time they've gone into the Hoosier State and grabbed the state's best prospect. In the class of 2018, the Wolverines signed Mason Parris, and it has paid off big time for the maize and blue. If Coach Bormet and company were able to make it happen again, Joey Silva would be a redshirt senior, and Cole Mattin would be a senior (if he doesn't use a redshirt along the away) when Mendez would get to Ann Arbor. 

Another school that has raided Indiana with success is Big Ten rival Minnesota. Also, in the class of 2018, Coach Eggum inked #13 Brayton Lee, and he's been outstanding for the Golden Gophers. With the graduation of two-time All-American, Mitch McKee, Minnesota is in the market for a 141-pounder. However, the Gophers current own commitments from four wrestlers in the class of 2021 that as of now project as 141-pounders. 

Watch Mendez tech fall Iowa commit Caleb Rathjen at the 2019 Cadet World Team Trials

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While Ohio State doesn't have the recent success of recruiting Indiana like a few of their Big Ten rivals, Tom Ryan and company are known for winning recruiting battles all over the country. Anthony Echemendia is expected to go right away for the Buckeyes, but it's unclear how many seasons he will be able to hold 141. Barring a redshirt season, Echemendia would be a junior by the time Mendez would get to Columbus. Ohio State also has Dylan D'Emilio, who was a four-time Ohio state champion and top 35 recruit in the class of 2019. 

Arizona State is another school on the list that does not have a returning NCAA qualifier at 141 or anyone committed that projects at that weight in the 2021 or 2022 classes. Julian Chlebove, a blue-chip recruit in the class of 2019, is still in Tempe, but only wrestled four matches during his redshirt campaign. The three-time Pennsylvania state champion would be a redshirt junior by the time that Mendez would arrive if he signed with the Sun Devils. 

Watch Mendez beat 2020 Princeton signee Anthony Clark

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Three-time NCAA qualifier Dylan Duncan will graduate following this season, and the 141-pound spot in Champaign will be there for the taking. Illinois does own a commitment from three-time California state champion Maximo Renteria who is currently ranked #12 in the class of 2021 and projects as a 141-pounder.

Last but certainly not least is the Princeton Tigers. Each year Princeton finds their way into more and more blue-chip recruits lists, and finding their way into the final group Mendez is deciding between is very impressive. Marshall Keller, the starter the past two seasons, has yet to qualify for the NCAA Championships but will graduate by the time Mendez would arrive. Coach Ayres and company did sign top 60 recruit in the class of 2020, Anthony Clark, and four-time Georgia state champion Nick Masters, who both project as 141-pounders. 

Don't forget to watch Mendez in action October 3 live on FloWrestling at Who's #1 as he takes on #4 Jordan Williams of Oklahoma with the winner earning a match with #2 Joel Vandervere later in the night. It was originally scheduled to be a four man bracket, but #1 Shayne Van Ness was injured and was forced to withdraw.