Then NFL Draft is just a little under 2 months away but the combine has been going on in Indianapolis over the course of the last couple of days and Indiana football has had a presence this year.
Former Indiana football quarterback Kurtis Rourke was in attendance for the Friday portion of the NFL Combine and was able to provide a health update. After the season had concluded for the Hoosiers, it was announced that Rourke had played the entire 2024 season with Torn ACL. It is believed to have re-torn his ACL in August meaning that he played all season with torn ACL. He tore his ACL back in the 2022 season while playing for Ohio.
“I was healthy enough to play and that’s all that mattered to me,” former Indiana football quarterback Kurtis Rourke said at the combine. “I wanted to make sure I gave it everything I had this year, especially being my last year.”
“They said I might have some nagging discomfort throughout the season. I had some instability issues, but I just wanted to play through it. I just wanted to make sure I could be available for every game.”
During the interview portion of the combine, Kurtis Rourke said that the ACL tear took place during fall camp, but there was not a specific moment that he knew of when it occurred.
“The trainers said it was going to be all right, and I was able to walk it off and finish practice,” said Roruke. “That’s my best guess when it happened, but there’s no way to know for sure.”
Although the ACL tear did not slow him down in that regards, Rourke did miss a game due to a broken thumb he sustained at the early part of the season. Regardless, it showed how tough the quarterback is and his ability to play through adversity.
“I look at how great the team did and how well I was able to perform with the torn ACL,” Rourke added. “I just look at it and want to tell teams that if I did that on a torn ACL and a broken thumb, imagine what I could do when I’m fully healthy.”
Rourke also stated that his goal is to be fully healthy come training camp time. It is expected that Rourke will hear his name called at any point during the NFL Draft. The Draft takes place April 24th-26th.
Rourke finished his final season at Indiana with 3,042 yards with 29 touchdowns and five interceptions. His season was one of the best in IU history, and around the country. Going into the College Football Playoff, he led the nation in passing efficiency (181.4) and led the Big Ten in passing touchdowns (27) and fewest interceptions (4). The three-time Offensive Player of the Week in the league, Rourke became the first Big Ten quarterback since 2000 to throw for 250 yards and at least three touchdowns in the first three conference road games.
The Hoosiers finished their season 11-2. The season ended with a loss to Notre Dame in the first round of the college football playoffs.
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