Kurtis Rourke is feeling like a freshman again.
The six-foot-five, 230-pound Oakville, Ont., native is entering his sixth American college football season but first at Indiana University. He transferred to Bloomington, Ind., in December after five years at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.
Just over a month later Rourke is still getting acclimated to his new surroundings.
"I'm just trying to figure out where classes are, what are the fastest ways around the stadium, stuff like that," Rourke said during a telephone interview. "All of those fun things a freshman does.
"I think it'll take a little longer to settle in because I was so used to Ohio … but that's life, right? You have to adapt and figure things out as you go."
Rourke started 34 of 36 games at Ohio (2019-23). He was the Mid-American Conference's top offensive player and a first-team all-star in 2022 before earning second-team all-MAC honours last year after leading the Bobcats to a 9-3 record.
But Rourke, 23, entered the transfer portal Dec. 5 and selected Indiana on Dec. 14.
Indiana (3-9) was last in the Big Ten (1-8) last year. But two factors that figured in Rourke's decision were new Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti and the opportunity to play in an NFL-type offence.
"I love the mentality of the coaching staff," Rourke said. "They made it clear to me they're not going to rebuild, they're going to bring in guys to win.
"Also, their offence is very NFL-like and kind of sets you up for what an offence would look like at the next level. One of the biggest questions I wanted answered while deciding my future … was what place would set me up best for my future and put me in the best spot for the next couple of years and I think Indiana does that."
Cignetti was 52-9 over five seasons at James Madison University. The school was 11-1 last year, averaging 35.2 points and 430.3 offensive yards per game.
However, Rourke will have to earn the No. 1 job.
"It's an open position right now, the coaches have said that," he said. "I think they definitely brought me in to try to be that guy but nothing has been handed to me, nothing has been given and that's how I want it.
"I want to go compete and win the job."
Rourke certainly has the experience to be the starter. He completed 638-of-963 passes (66.3 per cent) for 7,651 yards with 50 TDs and 16 interceptions at Ohio while rushing for 1,240 yards on 232 carries (5.3-yard average) and 11 touchdowns.
Brendan Sorsby, Indiana's starter last year, has transferred to Cincinnati.
Not surprisingly, someone Rourke leaned heavily upon was his older brother, Nathan. The elder Rourke spent last season with the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots after earning CFL top Canadian honours in 2022 with the B.C. Lions.
"He's been great just giving me advice, shooting me straight," Kurtis Rourke said.
"He was kind of the guy who said, 'Whatever puts you in the best spot a couple of years from now go with that, trust it and give it 100 per cent.' I admire that and know that's what he's done in his life."
But leaving Ohio wasn't easy.
"It was very tough," Rourke said. "I got my undergrad and masters there, I made a lot of friends and established many long-term relationships there, met my future wife there and developed as a player but also as a person . . however I think it was time to move on and start a new chapter."
Rourke earned MAC top offensive player honours in 2022 despite suffering a season-ending knee injury late that year. Over 11 contests, he completed 244-of-353 passes (69.1 per cent) for 3,257 yards with 25 TDs and four interceptions.
Rourke's yardage and touchdowns were career highs, the interceptions a career low.
Rourke returned under centre last year but couldn't match his 2022 production. He completed 195-of-307 passes (63.5 per cent) for 2,207 yards with 11 TDs and five interceptions in 11 games.
"Obviously I want to play at the next level (NFL) and the past year was statistically a down year so I knew I'd slipped a bit in the projections," Rourke said. "From people I talked to in my circle we agreed let's just put my name in and see if there's a great opportunity.
"If not, I could still fall back and try to go to (2024 NFL draft). In my eyes, it was win-win and I found a really good win here."
So Rourke will continue getting his bearings, all the while tempering his enthusiasm for the start of spring camp March 21.
"I think it's an excited anxiousness," he said. "The last game I played was in late November and it feels like forever.
"To be on the field again and competing will be great. I'm just looking to stay healthy again this year, stay confident with the team and enjoy the ride because I know this will be my last one, for sure."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 25, 2024.
Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press
