IU football quarterback Kurtis Rourke named to Golden Arm Award watch list — given to top upperclassman QB

IU football quarterback Kurtis Rourke earned a major national honor on Wednesday as he was named to the Golden Arm Award Watch List. The award is given to the top upperclassman quarterback in the country.

Rourke — who came to Indiana after a successful career with Ohio — has 33 starts under his belt in his collegiate career and has thrown for 7,651 yards and 50 touchdowns.

While there has not been an ‘official’ announcement from IU football head coach Curt Cignetti on his starting quarterback — it’s all but official.

“I thought Rourke had a good day,” Cignetti said. “Really sort of separated himself pretty significantly in that scrimmage (over the weekend).”

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Recognizing the top senior or upperclassman quarterback set to graduate with their class, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award has added senior quarterback Kurtis Rourke to its preseason watch list.

The Golden Arm Award, presented annually to the top upperclassmen quarterback by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, encapsulates all that is positive in college sports. The award acknowledges performance on the field for sure, but it goes beyond completion percentage and touchdown strikes. The award values character, citizenship, integrity and those who honor the game.

This season’s list acknowledges 63 of the nation’s leading quarterbacks, representing all 10 FBS conferences as well as football independent. The preseason watch list, semifinalists, finalists, and award recipient are selected by the distinguished Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Selection Committee, a group of prominent college football journalists, commentators, announcers, and former players.

In his career, Rourke has appeared in 36 career games with 33 starts. Those appearances came over five seasons at Ohio University (2019-23) where he was tabbed Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-MAC as a junior in 2022. His senior season netted second-team All-MAC honors as he has over 5,400 yards in the last two seasons.

Rourke has amassed 8,479 career all-purpose yards and accounted for 61 touchdowns (50 passing, 11 rushing). He has completed 638-of-963 passes for 7,651 yards passing and 50 touchdown passes and rushed for 1,240 career yards on 232 carries with 11 touchdowns. He also excelled in the classroom as an Academic All-American in 2022 and enters the season with his undergraduate degree in hand from Ohio U.

SEE ALSO: Kurtis Rourke has ‘separated himself pretty significantly’ in Indiana football QB battle

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