Intriguing potential Indiana football QB target entering transfer portal

While newly hired Indiana football head coach Curt Cignetti has been on the job for just 24 hours, his top potential offseason target may have just entered the transfer portal.

On Friday, James Madison quarterback Jordan McCloud announced his intention to enter the portal, resulting in immediate rumblings that the Indiana football program could be a team to watch.

McCloud was the 2023 Sun Belt Player of the Year for Cignetti at James Madison. He threw 3,413 passing yards this season with 32 passing touchdowns and just nine interceptions. He added 311 yards on the ground with eight additional scores. He had a 68.9 percent completion rate and 167.9 quarterback rating.

He had five 300+ yard passing games.

Not only does McCloud have the connection with Cignetti, but James Madison offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan and quarterbacks coach Tina Sunseri will be joining Cignetti in Bloomington.

That combination translated into one of the most explosive and high-scoring offenses in the country this season. They averaged 35.2 points per game and 430.3 total yards per game. They ranked 20th overall in passing yards and scoring offense and 32nd in total yards.

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McCloud transferred to James Madison this past year after spending two seasons at Arizona (2021-22) after starting his career at USF (2018-20).

At USF, McCloud threw for 2,770 yards and 21 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. He had 17 starts and appeared in 20 games. He also totaled 357 rushing yards and five additional touchdowns.

He appeared in just three games at Arizona, with two starts and had just 481 yards with two touchdowns and five interceptions.

McCloud’s success with the Dukes can be completely attributed to the coaching staff around him.

Even prior to McCloud’s arrival at James Madison, the trio of Cignetti, Shanahan and Sunseri had put together a terrific resume with quarterbacks.

Since 2021, the last three James Madison quarterbacks of Cole Johnson, Todd Centeio and McCloud have combined for 10,816 yards, 119 touchdowns and just 18 interceptions.

Cignetti’s success with quarterbacks was critical for Indiana football when going through its coaching search.

“We really wanted a high level recruiter. We wanted someone who was a proven evaluator and developer of talent. And we really wanted someone also who had worked with quarterbacks,” Indiana Athletic Director Scott Dolson said in Friday’s introductory press conference. “Quarterbacks was really important to us.”

Cignetti’s resume speaks for itself.

“It didn’t take much convincing. The proof’s in the pudding,” Cignetti said when asked about working with QBs. “We had four quarterbacks at JMU in five years. They all had their major skeptics going into the season, and all four of them were conference Player of the Year on offense. You tweak the offense depending on the strengths of the team, what the quarterback can do, how’s the offensive line, what’s your receiving corps like.”

The Indiana football offense has struggled with consistent quarterback play over the last three years, with nine different quarterbacks starting at least one game.

McCloud has one year of eligibility remaining.

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