Fernandez possesses very quick feet and fluid hip movement, allowing him to mirror receivers cleanly off the line. His short-area quickness stands out on tape, particularly in his ability to transition from backpedal to drive on the ball. He is currently slight of build, but his explosiveness and change-of-direction ability compensate for a lack of ideal length or bulk at this stage. Fernandez shows confidence and competitiveness in press or off-man situations. He does a good job using his hands to disrupt at the line and maintains tight coverage through the stem of routes. He consistently finds his landmark, understands route combinations, and rotates effectively in quarters or Cover 2/3 schemes. His ability to cover ground laterally while keeping his eyes on the quarterback is a plus. Fernandez is fast to break on the ball and displays strong instincts when the play develops in front of him. He tracks the deep ball well and has a natural feel for undercutting routes or jumping short throws.

While the tape reviewed didn’t show a high volume of interceptions, his positioning and timing when the ball is in the air suggest he should be a playmaker in college. He is notably more physical than his frame suggests. Fernandez is a willing and aggressive tackler who squares up runners and delivers solid form tackles. He doesn’t shy away from contact in run support and is effective at closing downhill quickly. Continued strength training will be important to handle bigger, more physical wide receivers and tight ends at the next level, but the foundation is there. Good football IQ and vision allow him to diagnose plays quickly. He appears to play with confidence and energy, rarely caught out of position. His ability to process information while maintaining athletic execution is one of the more impressive aspects of his film.