2024 Position Preview: For the First Time in Five Seasons IU Has Quarterback Depth and Experience
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Written by Sammy Jacobs (Hoosier_Huddle)
The Indiana Hoosiers have not had this type of depth and experience in their quarterback room since 2019 when IU had both Michael Penix and Peyton Ramsey. That year the Hoosiers went 8-5 (5-4). In 2020 with Penix and Jack Tuttle the Hoosiers went 6-2. After that, just 9-27 with poor quarterback play at the center of the offense's struggles.
This season IU brought in the 2022 MAC offensive player of the year in Kurtis Rourke and redshirt sophomore Tayven Jackson who had five starts with the Hoosiers last season is back. The Hoosiers also brought in two high school quarterbacks in four-star recruit Tyler Cherry and three-star prospect Alberto Mendoza. It’s the best the room has been in half a decade. Let’s break it down.
Probable Starter
Kurtis Rourke, RS Senior+, 6’5” 223 lbs
Curt Cignetti said at media days in Indianapolis that he will not name a starting quarterback, but it is very clear that Rourke will be the starter come August 31st. He has 33 starts over five seasons with the Ohio Bobcats and took home the MAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2022. 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 and 11 touchdowns. Those numbers are no joke. He can create both with his arm and his feet, something that has been lacking in Bloomington for a while.
After a recent scrimmage Cignetti said “I thought (Kurtis) Rourke had a good day, he really has separated himself pretty significantly in that scrimmage.”
“(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 give you the best chance of success as a football team. Sometimes it might not be making the spectacular play, it might be getting you back to normal down-and-distance situation, but it also highly involves processing information, finding the open guy and getting them the ball.” Cignetti said of Rourke.
IU needs consistent play at quarterback in 2024 if they want to make a run at the postseason.
The Backup
Tayven Jackson, RS Sophomore, 6’4” 212 lbs.
Jackson came to IU with a ton of hype and fanfare, but little to no experience after transferring from Tennessee. He started five games and played in six for the Hoosiers last year, but clearly showed he still needs to develop. He had some moments where he looked like the four-star recruit he was tabbed as out of high school, but more often than not he looked like a young player who needs some time.
Jackson threw for 924 yards, but only two touchdowns and five interceptions. His completion percentage was 60.9-percent. He is a good athlete who can run, but showed hesitation to take off out of the pocket when presented the chance to gain yards.
Jackson impressed in the 2024 spring game hitting Donaven McCulley for a touchdown and finding a connection with Andison Coby, but it was not enough to wrestle the starting job from Rourke.
“Nothing has really changed there in terms of how I feel coming out of spring. Tayven (Jackson) is capable of making the wild play, but there has to be more play-in, play-out consistency, eye discipline, focus, eyes downfield, making the right reads, securing the football, not turning the ball over, proper footwork.” Cignetti said after the Hoosier’s ninth fall practice.
Redshirt Candidates
Cherry was the topper of Curt Cignetti’s first signing class at IU. He was a highly touted recruit out of one of the best football programs in Indiana. However, it is not his time yet. The blueprint would be for Cherry to redshirt in 2024 while hopefully getting his feet wet in the four allowed games and then battling with Jackson for the starting spot in 2025.
Mendoza is the forgotten member of the scholarship quarterback group, but he is also a good developmental prospect and this staff is good at developing quarterbacks. Mendoza played his high school ball at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami where he won back-to-back Florida High School Athletic Association Class 4 Metro state titles.