Indiana fans have learned their lesson after two seasons with Curt Cignetti.
You can’t judge a transfer quarterback based on the spring. Or the first game for that matter.
Indiana fans weren’t real sure about Kurtis Rourke or Fernando Mendoza one game into their respective seasons in Bloomington.
Things worked out okay for those guys.
And while Texas Christian transfer quarterback Josh Hoover didn’t light Memorial Stadium ablaze in front the fans and cameras at Indiana’s first spring game, his head coach isn’t concerned.
“I’d say Josh is right where Fernando was last year and Kurtis the year before,” IU coach Curt Cignetti said. “He knows how to play quarterback. He’s thrown for a lot of yards and touchdown passes. He’s a quick thinker, nice touch, accurate with the ball. I like where he’s at.”
Hoover is the most accomplished quarterback to transfer into Cignetti’s program.
For his career the Heath, Texas product has the most passing yards (9,629) and touchdown passes (71) of any player returning to college football this fall.
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Hoover needs to cut down on mistakes to reach his full potential this season. He’s thrown 33 interceptions over the last three years.
But one reason quarterbacks improve under Cignetti is because of who they’re facing every day in practice.
If you can begin to figure out Bryant Haines’ defense, you’ve figured out a lot.
“You see why Coach Haines is who he is,” Hoover said. “That defense has made me so much better. I’ve never played against anything that was as complex and able to disguise like they do. I have a lot of respect for that side of the ball and for Coach Haines and all those coaches on defense.
“It was good for me to go against that every day, play against a top defense in the country. They have good players and a good pass rush. It will only make us better. I’m appreciative.”
Coming to Indiana to play quarterback took on a whole new meaning over the last year.
It’s unrecognizable when compared to the program Hoover committed to in 2021 before having a change of heart and heading to TCU.
Now, it’s a national championship program. A Heisman Trophy program. Yes Hoover has an impressive college resume, but that’s a heavy burden to place on anyone.
His head coach believes he’s up to the task.
“He embraced that challenge when he made the decision to come here,” Cignetti said. “He’s a process-oriented guy. He’s trying to make the most of every rep right now. There’s not a lot of scrutiny other than the coaches’ scrutiny going on.
“He’s played a lot of football. I’m confident he’ll come out of (August) camp ready to play well and build off his successes.”
With veteran quarterbacks demanding top dollar in the transfer portal, Hoover could have practically named his next school after leaving TCU.
But just a few weeks after Mendoza won the Heisman, and just a few days after Indiana humiliated Alabama at the Rose Bowl, Hoover announced his commitment.
He knows he needs to improve if he wants to reach the next level, and he saw the strides both Rourke and Mendoza made, and the James Madison quarterbacks before them.
And Hoover stepped up to the challenge.
“I wanted to get better,” Hoover said.. “I wanted to be the best quarterback I could be. Number one, I felt coming here would give me a chance to get better, get developed by some great coaches and No. 2, be part of a great program with a bunch of great guys who are unselfish.
“They’re not me guys, they’re team guys. That’s what I wanted. That’s the vision I had — to be around great guys, great coaches, and a great community. A place where you can compete for championships and win.”
And what about following in the footsteps of Mendoza, who we can safely say just produced the best individual and team season in program history, and one of the best in college football history?
“I’m trying to be the best version of myself and be who I am every day,” Hoover said. “That’s all I have to do. Be myself. Fernando is an unbelievable person and player. I have to be myself, do my best for IU, and make guys around me better.”
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