Indiana intends to sign a transfer quarterback: What will Indiana look for in a transfer quarterback?…….

What will Indiana look for in a transfer quarterback?

Curt Cignetti has already stated that Indiana intends to sign a transfer quarterback during this year’s portal cycle. The thing you have to know about Cignetti quarterbacks? Nothing.

 

There isn’t one particular physical trait or thing they do particularly well over the field as a group. Which is good, actually.

 

Before Cignetti was a head coach or Nick Saban’s first recruiting coordinator at Alabama, he was typically a quarterbacks coach, mentoring names like Philip Rivers among others. The position has remained an emphasis for him as a head coach as well.

 

What Cignetti’s programs have tended to do is take an experienced signal caller, either from transfer portal or long term development, and put him in a position to do whatever it is he’s best at. If that’s mobility? Use his legs. If it’s his accuracy and timing? Let him drop back and read the field.

Kurtis Rourke was the latter option. He was a talented passer out of Ohio and made something of a name for himself in 2022 before injuries held him back in 2023. This past season was something of a redemption for him under a staff that has prided itself on its work with the position.

 

Jordan McCloud at JMU was a similar story. He’d had an alright career before joining the Dukes en route to a Sun Belt Player of the Year nod during his lone season with the program in 2023. His predecessor Todd Centenio, a fellow one-year starter for the Dukes, was more of a dual threat and the offense used his legs more as a result.

 

So don’t be surprised if and when Indiana ends up casting a pretty wide net in the portal for this recruitment. They’re not targeting a specific type of player, other than good ones.

It’s worth keeping in mind that whoever Indiana signs will have to compete for the starting job with Tayven Jackson, Alberto Mendoza and Tyler Cherry. That won’t just be handed to whoever they get out of the portal.

 

Overall, it’s worth trusting the process with Cignetti and letting the staff work once they have a guy in the building.