The Rourke quarterback pipeline at Ohio University is alive and well, as Kurtis Rourke will start for the Bobcats in their Week 0 matchup with the San Diego State Aztecs, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported Monday.
Rourke is the younger brother of Nathan Rourke, who also was a star pivot at Ohio and is now the third-string quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars after a one-year stint with the B.C. Lions. Nathan ranks first in Ohio school history with a career passing efficiency rating of 144.3 and second in career passing touchdowns with 40.
Kurtis won the MAC conference's Offensive Player of the Year award despite having his season cut short by an ACL injury.
Thamel reported that the younger Rourke is "ahead of schedule" in his recovery.
Now a senior, Rourke threw for 2,725 yards and 21 touchdowns while completing 69.1 per cent of his passes before his junior season was cut short by injury. He also added 234 yards and four touchdowns with his legs.
Even without the Oakville, Ont. native at the helm, the Bobcats made it to the MAC title game where they lost 17-7 to Toledo.
This will be Rourke's third season as the full-time starter for the Bobcats.
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