Jaime Mendez

Jaime Mendez (born February 20, 1971) is a former American collegiate football free safety, who was an all-American at Kansas State University. He is the Wildcats' all-time career leader in interceptions with 15. High school Mendez was an all-state selection at Cardinal Mooney, the same school that produced former Wildcat co-defensive coordinator Bob Stoops and former defensive ends coach Mike Stoops. His coach was Don Bucci. He helped high school team register eight shutouts in 1987 en route to a 13-1 record and the Division III state title. Jaime's greatest game was his only loss that year but was in double overtime against Elvis Grbac - 1988 Desmond Howard-1988.(both of Cleveland St. Joe's) Cardinal Mooney also captured the league title in 1988. Mendez was a sprinter on the high school track team along with serving as all seniors at Cardinal Mooney do as a football team captain. College career After redshirting in 1989, Mendez tied the K-State season record with six interceptions and broke the school standard for interception return yardage with 154 yards as a redshirt freshmen in 1990. He was an honorable mention All-Big 8, as well as newcomer of the year. He was ninth nationally in interceptions. As a sophomore in 1991, he earned first team All-Big 8 as well as being named third-team All-American. He finished third on the team with 79 tackles and fourth in the Big 8 with nine passes broken up. As a junior in 1992, he earned consensus first-team All-Big Eight honors as well as honorable mention all-America honors. He set a modern-day Big 8 record and school record with four interceptions in a win over Temple, including three in the first half. As a senior in 1993, he again earned Consensus first-team All-American honors and earned first-team All-Big Eight once again. He was one of eight semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award He was named team's co-MVP and Co-captained team to a 9-2-1 record and the school's first bowl victory in a 52-17 blowout against Wyoming in the 1993 Copper Bowl. Career statistics