The Indiana football program will start a new era in 2024, the first year under former James Madison Dukes head coach and current bench boss Curt Cignetti. The Hoosiers inked Cignetti as their next head coach in late November after he led the Dukes to a 19-4 record over the past two seasons. Cignetti wasted no time looking for the next quarterback in Indiana football program history, earning a commitment from a three-year starter on Friday. Per Matt Zenitz of 247Sports, former Ohio Bobcats quarterback Kurtis Rourke will take his talents to Bloomington next fall.
Indiana has landed a commitment from Ohio QB transfer Kurtis Rourke.
At least some NFL scouts had late-round NFL draft grades on Rourke heading into the season. He has 7,666 career passing yards.https://t.co/6Cw7NKmknb pic.twitter.com/49j83W86bM
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 14, 2023
Rourke was among the best quarterbacks in the transfer portal regarding production. Alongside Dillon Gabriel, Cam Ward, DJ Uiagalelei, Will Howard, Tyler Van Dyke, and Gayson McCall, the former Ohio gunslinger offers his new team production and experience.
QB Kurtis Rourke: 2022 MAC POY
Rourke, a former two-star prospect from Canada, joined the Ohio Bobcats in 2019. He played his first season behind his older brother Nathan, who tossed 60 touchdowns against 20 picks during his time with the Bobcats. The younger Rourke, Kurtis, earned the starting gig in 2020, throwing for 386 yards and three touchdowns against no picks in the COVID-19-shortened season. The lengthy six-foot-three signal caller again started in 2021, throwing for 1,801 yards and 11 touchdowns against seven picks. Ohio finished the season 3-9.
However, Rourke and the Bobcats made massive strides in 2022. Ohio finished the season 10-4, with Rourke throwing for 3,257 yards and 25 touchdowns against four picks. He also added 245 yards and four scores on the ground. The 23-year-old played in only 11 games, suffering a torn ACL late in the season.
Rourke threw for 2,207 yards and 11 scores with five interceptions this season, a far cry from his production the year prior.
Indiana Football: QB Depth Chart
Last season’s starting quarterback for the Indiana football program, redshirt freshman Brendan Sorsby, entered the transfer portal in November and has since committed to the Cincinnati Bearcats. He threw for 15 touchdowns with five picks while rushing for another four scores. He ranked sixth in the Big Ten regarding passing efficiency rating.
Meanwhile, the Hoosiers will have underclassmen quarterbacks Tayven Jackson, Broc Lowry, and Alberto Mendoza on the roster in 2024. Jackson transferred in from the Tennessee Volunteers football program last year and threw two touchdowns against five picks in six games. Lowry, a true freshman and former three-star prospect, attempted just one pass in 2023. Mendoza is a three-star recruit who committed to Indiana after the hiring of Curt Cignetti.
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