Overview

Position: QB

College: Indiana

Class: Senior (RS)

Age: 24

 

Measurables

Height: 6’4 1/4”

Weight: 220 lbs.

Arm length: 30 1/4”

Hand size: 9 3/8”

 

Athletic testing

40-yard dash: N/A

10-yard split: N/A

Vertical jump: N/A

Broad jump: N/A

Bench press: N/A

3-cone drill: N/A

Short shuttle: N/A

 

Strengths

Prototype size. Stands tall in the pocket to survey the defense. Release is quick and repeatable. Shows an ability to manipulate his arm angle and adjust after starting his throwing motion. Slides up in the pocket. Will work through full progressions. Decisive and throws a very catchable ball. Excellent on timing-based throws between the numbers. Quick and decisive getting the ball out after play-action fakes and on RPOs. Throws with plenty of zip. Makes a decision and fires. Hits receivers with precision on slants. Delivers strikes on deeper in-breaking routes. Tremendous timing and accuracy on pivot routes. Accuracy allows for run-after-catch opportunities. Hits targets in the chest on stop routes. Exceptional touch to throw over underneath coverage. Ball placement is generally excellent throwing into tight coverage. Able to take heat off to feather throws down the field. Very good downfield accuracy. Excellent accuracy on corner routes. Drives the ball to the sideline on out-breaking routes. Great feel and accuracy on downfield back-shoulder balls. Tremendous touch and timing to pull pass-catchers away from coverage in the end zone. Very willing to put the ball up and give his guys a chance. Terrific accuracy on hole shots. Uses shoulder pump fakes. Looks off to the opposite side of the field when he knows he wants to target the backside. Will stand in to take a hit to get a throw off. Impressive accuracy while taking a hit. Doesn’t tip off screen passes and gets the ball out quickly as things develop. Very comfortable with outstanding accuracy rolling out to his left. Good overall mobility. Keeps two hands on the ball while moving. Makes subtle movements in the pocket to stay clean. Will use a shoulder dip to escape rushers to get out of the pocket. Shows some strength to break sacks. Has playmaking instincts and keeps his eyes downfield while scrambling. Will take off as a runner when given space. Willing to take a hit going for a first down. Can pull the ball on zone reads and had a game-sealing run versus Michigan (2024). Great in the cold and diced up Purdue with 349 yards and six touchdowns in the snow (2024). Extremely tough in general. Played through a torn ACL in 2024.

 

Weaknesses

Needs to be careful about throwing into coverage and not letting things play out fully. Predetermines too many throws and will put the ball in danger. Will test coverage when receivers don’t have separation. Anticipation could be better to target later in-breaking routes on route combinations. Would like to see him target open hitch routes on the outside more. Downfield throws outside the numbers are sometimes left too far inside and flat. Want to see him hit open checkdowns more. Can get squeezed in the pocket with nowhere to escape. Needs to have a more consistent plan to get rid of the ball when pressured. Started hot versus Michigan but got hit around and became less accurate (2024). Recovering from early January knee surgery.

 

NFL comparison

Sam Bradford

 

Conclusion

Overall, Rourke is an accurate, decisive, and tough quarterback who is at his best attacking between the numbers on timing-based elements but can throw all over the field. Despite the knee injury, he has borderline first-round talent and will hopefully benefit from a boosted supporting cast.

 

Big Board ranking: #41 | Positional ranking: #4