Indiana soccer all of a sudden faces a brand new dilemma in its quarterback room. Kurtis Rourke is not the one QB leaving Bloomington. So is his backup following the devastating Notre Dame loss.
Tayven Jackson is coming into the switch portal, per Pete Nakos of On3.com Saturday. Jackson spent the whole 2024 season enjoying behind the star QB1 Rourke.
The Hoosiers additionally will lose an in-state expertise. Jackson is from Greenwood, Indiana. However he began his profession at Tennessee earlier than heading to IU.
Jackson completed the season finishing 23 passes out of 37 makes an attempt. He racked up 349 yards. Jackson tossed 4 touchdowns with one interception. He additionally introduced a cellular component along with his legs. Jackson scored three speeding touchdowns whereas averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
However his departure comes following a tough night time in South Bend. Rourke obtained held to 215 passing yards, two late landing passes however obtained intercepted contained in the pink zone on an early IU drive. Rourke and IU obtained harsh critics for its postseason look, together with from NFL legend Rob Gronkowski.
Who’s left at Indiana after Kurtis Rourke and backup departure?
Indiana may have an overhauled QB room following its epic 11-2 season.
The Hoosiers and head coach Curt Cignetti by no means signed a single quarterback through the early signing interval from Dec. 4-6. However that does not imply “Cig” is with none QBs for subsequent season.
He reeled in four-star Tyler Cherry by way of the 2024 recruiting class. Cherry is one other Greenwood native. He emerged because the state of Indiana’s sixth-ranked prospect for the 2024 class per 247Sports.
Then there’s Alberto Mendoza, who took a redshirt freshman 12 months for IU. Mendoza is the youthful brother of Cal QB Fernando Mendoza — who’s within the switch portal.
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Cignetti constructed his first IU group via the portal. Rourke even arrived as a switch — having starred for Ohio College within the Mid-American Convention (MAC). “Cig” already must go portal looking to fill his QB room.
Rourke is off to the NFL as a future 24-year-old prospect. He not solely broke out as a high Massive 10 Convention performer, however received the MAC’s 2022 MVP trophy.
Fernando Mendoza is not the one passer in search of a future CFB dwelling. Mikey Keene left Fresno State and is but to announce his ’25 vacation spot. Although he visited IU’s Massive 10 rival Michigan, per Pete Nakos of On3.com Wednesday. Hauss Hejny of TCU formally turned the most recent QB entry on Saturday morning, per Chris Hummer of 247Sports. Evans Chuba of Washington State was one other portal entry from Saturday — saying his determination earlier than 7:30 a.m PT.
Indiana, in the meantime, has welcomed seven portal additions for 2025. Former Massive 10 Convention rival Riley Nowakowski of Northwestern is coming to bolster the tight finish room as one IU newcomer. Ex-UAB working again Lee Beebe Jr. turned the primary addition to IU on Dec. 13.