The San Francisco 49ers selected Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke with the 11th pick (No. 227 overall) in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Measurements:
Rourke is 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds. Additionally, he boasts an arm length of 30 1/4 inches and hands measuring 9 3/8 inches.
Hometown:
Oakville, Ontario
College Statistics:
Rourke completed 222-of-320 attempts (69.4 percent) for 3,042 yards with 29 touchdowns and five interceptions through 12 games in 2024, per Sports Reference. He has passed for 8,506 yards over the past three seasons. Rourke transferred from Ohio to Indiana in 2024.
| Statistical Rundown | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Cmp | Att | Cmp% | Yds | TD | TD% | Int | Int% | Y/A |
| 2019 | Ohio | MAC | FR | QB | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2020 | Ohio | MAC | FR | QB | 3 | 30 | 44 | 68.2 | 386 | 3 | 6.8 | -- | 0 | 8.8 |
| 2021 | Ohio | MAC | SO | QB | 10 | 169 | 259 | 65.3 | 1,801 | 11 | 4.2 | 7 | 2.7 | 7 |
| 2022 | Ohio | MAC | JR | QB | 11 | 244 | 353 | 69.1 | 3,257 | 25 | 7.1 | 4 | 1.1 | 9.2 |
| 2023 | Ohio | MAC | SR | QB | 11 | 195 | 307 | 63.5 | 2,207 | 11 | 3.6 | 5 | 1.6 | 7.2 |
| 2024 | Indiana | Big Ten | SR | QB | 12 | 222 | 320 | 69.4 | 3,042 | 29 | 9.1 | 5 | 1.6 | 9.5 |
| Total | 48 | 860 | 1,283 | 67 | 10,693 | 79 | 6.2 | 21 | 1.6 | 8.3 | ||||
Lance Zierlein's NFL.com scouting report:
Rourke earns a draftable grade because of his size, experience and production. He's coming off an ACL tear, but the injury might not have a major impact on his draft slotting since his game isn't built on mobility. Rourke's evaluation requires 2023 tape to get a feel for his delivery and velocity when his knee is stable. While he can make pro throws, the accuracy and placement is average. He's a decent field-reader who throws with adequate touch and anticipation. Rourke played winning football in 2024 and he's plenty tough, but he needs to take better care of the football if he wants to stick with an NFL team.
NFL.com Draft Bio:
- 2019 (Ohio): Redshirted. Played in 1 game as a reserve (3-20-6.7 rushing) behind his brother, Nathan.
- 2020 (Ohio): Started all 3 games (30-44-68.2, 386 yards, 3 TDs passing; 14-17-1.2 rushing).
- 2021 (Ohio): Started 9 games (169-259-65.3, 1,801 yards, 11 TDs, 7 INTs passing; 74-327-4.4, 3 TDs rushing).
- 2022 (Ohio): MAC Offensive Player of the Year. First-team All-MAC. Started 11 games (244-353-69.1, 3,256 yards, 25 TDs, 4 INTs passing; 74-249-3.4, 4 TDs rushing).
- 2023 (Ohio): Second-team All-MAC. Started 11 games (195-307-63.5, 2,207 yards, 11 TDs, 5 INTs passing; 67-219-3.3, 4 TDs rushing). Entered the transfer portal before the team's win over Georgia Southern in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.
- 2024: Second-team All-Big Ten Conference. Set school single-season record with 29 passing TDs. Ranked eighth in the FBS with a 69.4 percent completion rate (222-320), tied for 10th with 29 passing TDs (against 5 INTs). Started 12 games (2 rushing TDs). Played through a torn ACL all season and had surgery in January 2025.
- Miscellaneous: Brother, Nathan, was an All-MAC QB at Ohio and set the CFL record for completion percentage (78.7) with the British Columbia Lions in 2022.
Pre-Draft Grade:
Rourke earned a pre-draft grade of 5.82 from NFL.com, which equates to an "average backup or special-teams player," per the site's 8-point grading scale.
Projection:
NFL.com projected Rourke to be an undrafted free agent.
Pro Football Focus Draft Profile:
Rourke hails from the Great White North of Oakville, Ontario, where he led his team to a Halton Championship as a junior and finished as a runner-up the following season. He spent four years at Ohio as a multi-year starter before transferring to Indiana for his final season of eligibility. As a Hoosier, he had his most productive and efficient year.
At over 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Rourke ranks above the 75th percentile in both height and weight. In 2024, he posted a career-low 2.5% turnover-worthy play rate while recording a 5.9% big-time throw rate, the second-highest of his career. His footwork and follow-through are solid, creating an aesthetically clean throwing motion for a passer his size. His accuracy is generally good, though not elite, and he has shown the ability to make impressive touch throws.
However, his reliance on touch throws is partly due to a backhanded compliment—he has had plenty of practice with them because his arm strength and velocity are lacking, even for his size. He also has minimal experience operating under center in a pro-style offense. Additionally, he tends to lock in on his primary pre-snap read, which must improve, especially given his lack of arm strength to compensate for late throws with anticipation.
Pro Football Focus Big Board:
Rourke ranks 220th on Pro Football Focus' big board.
Pro Football Focus Grading:
Rourke earned an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 88.4 in 2024.
NFL Draft Buzz Summary:
Rourke projects as a high-floor backup quarterback who could develop into a spot starter in a timing-based passing attack that emphasizes quick game concepts and intermediate throws. His processing speed and accuracy from clean pockets will translate immediately to NFL game speed, though his ceiling is capped by athletic limitations.
His ideal fit would be with a team running a West Coast system that can maximize his anticipation and ball placement on rhythm throws while minimizing the need for second-reaction plays. While he won't wow anyone with physical tools, Rourke's intelligence, toughness, and consistency from the pocket make him an attractive Day 3 target for teams seeking a reliable backup who can execute their base offense.
The ACL surgery adds some short-term uncertainty, but Rourke's track record of production across multiple levels of competition suggests he can be a capable NFL signal caller when healthy. His combination of size, experience, and processing ability gives him a clear path to sticking in the league, even if he may never develop into a full-time starter.
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