FOOTBALL

Kurtis Rourke knows Fernando Mendoza will succeed with Indiana football but reminds him to ‘just go in and play ball’

Kurtis Rourke offered words of encouragement for the new Indiana football quarterback Fernando Mendoza — remember how you got here.

Published

3 hours ago

March 3, 2025

Alec Lasley

Kurtis Rourke offered words of encouragement for the new Indiana football quarterback Fernando Mendoza -- remember how you got here. (Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images)

When Indiana football landed Kurtis Rourke from the transfer portal last year, nobody knew what to fully expect. While he was a former MAC Offensive Player of the Year, he was coming off of a year removed from an ACL injury — and never playing at the power four level was certainly going to be an adjustment at a minimum. Fast forward a year later and Rourke landed in the top-10 of the Heisman Trophy voting, led IU to a College Football Playoff appearance and was one of the top passers in the Big Ten, and across the country.

So as his next adventure begins in the NFL, and his testing at the NFL Combine took place last week in Indianapolis, the next quarterback to look to embrace the new Indiana culture is Fernando Mendoza. The Cal transfer picked the Hoosiers over Miami and Georgia this offseason and comes to Indiana with high expectations. Not only was Mendoza one of the top QB transfers this offseason, he also was already on the NFL radar after two successful seasons out west.

He’ll look to become the next standout quarterback in the Curt Cignetti system.

“He can throw the ball. He can spin the ball. He can make all the throws.,” Cignetti said of Mendoza this winter. “He’s pretty mobile, he throws well on the move and he can run — he runs better than Kurtis. He’s a highly intelligent guy. So, that’s where it all begins as everybody knows, and we think he’s gonna give us something.”

Mendoza threw for 3,004 yards including 16 touchdowns and only six interceptions this past season at Cal. He completed 68.7 percent on his passes, second-best in the ACC. He had three games with at least 300+ passing yards and seven total of at least 275 yards.

He knows what success looks like under Cignetti and the development he’d receive in Bloomington was the main factor in why he decided to come to Indiana.

“The reason that IU stood out and it stood out way above the rest was the development,” Mendoza said. “The development that Coach Cignetti brings, that Coach Shanahan brings and Coach Whitmer brings. All three have worked with phenomenal quarterbacks in the past. Coach Cignetti, four out of the five past quarterbacks he’s had have all been conference players of the year.

“A big reason with Indiana’s offensive system is its variety and how multiple it is and what great detail the offense is and how it develops people for the next level. It developed Kurtis Rourke in that one year … I believe it’s going to do the same for myself … it’s the detail and the way of coaching and the style of coaching which was so attractive.”

While expectations will be high, the adjustment to a new system, staff and environment will be a change. So, who knows what it’s like to go through that better than Rourke — who exceeded all expectations in such a short time.

“He’s (Fernando) — I’ve known him a little bit through his younger brother (Alberto) so I knew him before he was being recruited by IU. He’s a talented guy,” Rourke said at the NFL Combine. “We both played a lot of ball before coming to IU. I would just tell him to trust yourself. Trust your training. You’re walking into a great staff, great coach and great scheme. So, absorb as much as you can but revert back to your training and the reason you’re there — you’re talented enough and you don’t have to overthink it. Just go in and play ball.”

With two seasons of eligibility remaining for Mendoza, he’ll look to build on the foundation that was set this past season from Rourke and the rest of the Indiana football roster — an 11-2 season and program-best year in Bloomington.

“Curt Cignetti is going to be there for a while and continue to build teams that will be competitive,” Rourke said. “I’ve said last year’s team set the foundation and it’s going to be even better from now on.

” … Bloomington, the fans, seeing them come around the football team, it shows they were just waiting for this and for a season like this and a team like this. It was really encouraging to know we have one of the best fanbases in football and they will continue to rally around the team for years to come.”