Where Indiana football quarterback Kurtis Rourke lands in PFF’s Big Ten QB rankings

Indiana football heads into the 2024 season with some question marks but one that seems to be a low concern level is at the quarterback position. Kurtis Rourke arrived this spring with the expectation of being the starting quarterback and the preseason accolades have lived up to his resume thus far.

After being named to the Golden Award Watch List — given to the top upperclassman QB in the country — Rourke is now ranked among the top half of the quarterbacks in the Big Ten. Pro Football Focus released its preseason rankings this week and Rourke was No. 7 on the list in the conference. He had previously been ranked by PFF as a top-5 returning player at the position in the Big Ten.

While Rourke hasn’t officially been named the starting quarterback, everything points to the transfer QB starting under center next Saturday.

And, it’s his consistency that has helped him stand out and separate himself in fall camp.

“Rourke stacks days,” Cignetti said last week. “He had an off day or two last week. Or maybe he wasn’t real good in seven on seven, came back and had a really good two-minute drill. Something like that. But for the most part, he’s been playing good football now.

“Always room for improvement for anybody on this football team … But (he’s) consistent and knows how to play quarterback. A lot goes into that position. He’s an extension of a coach and he’s got to make good decisions, choices and decisions that are going to lead to giving you the best chance of success as a football team.“

Rourke transferred to the Indiana football program after a successful career with Ohio. He started 33 during his time at Ohio and has totaled 7,651 yards and 50 touchdowns in his college career.

Now, Rourke is looking to take another step up with his play and development with the offensive minds in Bloomington. He’ll be playing under the tutelage of Curt Cignetti, Mike Shanahan and Tino Sunseri — a trio that has produced multiple conference Players of the Year at the quarterback position.

“I think he is pretty much the guy we’ve seen on tape, and he is doing his best to continue to grow and improve,” Shanahan said of Rourke. “Coach [Tino] Sunseri has done a great job with him; teaching him the nuances of the offense and, not only the scheme on the surface level, but the true nuances within each play. I think you just see him continue to get better and better. He has worked on his body this offseason and I think he made another step in that direction over the summer, as well.”

Rourke was the MAC Offensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-MAC selection in 2022. He then followed that up with an All-MAC Second-Team selection as a senior.  senior season.

“I sleep better at night knowing I’ve got a guy like that that’s played that many games,” Cignetti emphasized at Big Ten Media Day.

The Hoosiers and Kurtis Rourke will take the field for the new era of Indiana football on August 31 against Florida International.

SEE ALSO: ‘You get better or you get worse. You never stay the same’: Curt Cignetti sees ‘significant tangible strides’ for Indiana football as fall camp wraps up

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