Canadian QB Kurtis Rourke follows CFL brother鈥檚 path as Ohio Bobcats鈥� signal-caller
ATHENS, Ohio (BVM) 鈥� Football talent has never been lacking for the Rourke brothers. It begins with Nathan Rourke, who starred at Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School in Oakville, Ontario, and later Edgewood Academy in Alabama.
Rourke went on to play in Kansas at Fort Scott Community College and then transferred to Ohio University where he became a three-year starter. Rourke鈥檚 standout college career led him to an opportunity to chase professional football. He has since landed back in his home country of Canada, playing in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the BC Lions.
However, the family鈥檚 talent has not stopped there. Kurtis Rourke has followed in the footsteps of his older brother, starring in high school and now at Ohio. As he continues his career with the Bobcats, the family鈥檚 legacy is continuing to grow.聽
For Kurtis, his time in the sport began early as he played organized football at just 4 years old. It initially was in large part because of Nathan, as Kurtis wanted to do anything his older brother was doing growing up.
鈥淚t was at the same time when my brother wanted to play, and at that time in my age, I just wanted to do whatever he did,鈥� Kurtis said.
After a few years of playing, Kurtis found his own love for the game, and that translated to success on the gridiron. The quarterback competed locally around Oakville, Ontario, playing alongside multiple future CFL players.聽
鈥淚t was always fun to compete with them,鈥� Kurtis said. 鈥淲e were just really good and really talented together so we won a lot of championships.鈥�
Kurtis began realizing he had special arm talent during his youth, and that continued to be seen during his high school career. During his ninth and 10th-grade years, Kurtis played at Holy Trinity in Oakville alongside his brother.
As his brother headed down to Alabama for his senior season, Kurtis followed. However, he rode the bench for most of that year, leading to a return to Holy Trinity the following season.
From there, the quarterback began to blossom. After a strong season during his 12th-grade year, Kurtis took advantage of Canada鈥檚 opportunity to play an extra high school season, and it ultimately helped him to begin receiving college looks.
鈥淚 took that and was able to get an offer,鈥� Kurtis said. 鈥淲ithout Canada offering that extra year, I really wouldn鈥檛 be here and it鈥檚 just awesome how things worked out.鈥�
Kurtis had offers within Canada after 12th grade, but began receiving interest from several Mid-American Conference (MAC) schools as he played his extra year. While schools like Buffalo were strong considerations, it was no surprise Kurtis ended up at Ohio.
鈥淚 had a little in with Ohio just because Nathan was there,鈥� Kurtis noted. 鈥淏ut they weren鈥檛 really high on me at the time.鈥�
However, by the spring of that year, Ohio came and watched Kurtis throw. Soon after, he was destined to become a Bobcat.
鈥淚t was a pretty clear choice for Ohio,鈥� Kurtis added. 鈥淛ust their tradition, the culture and the coaching staff, that鈥檚 pretty much all still there. I just knew the timeline of quarterbacks was really favorable for me, I had a chance to come in and compete.鈥�
In his true freshman season in Athens, Ohio, Kurtis would see action in just one contest and ended up redshirting. However, it was a valuable year of learning for the new quarterback, and also a special year being able to suit up alongside Nathan.
鈥淚t was almost like a dream come true,鈥� Kurtis said about playing alongside Nathan at Ohio. 鈥淐oming in as a freshman with nobody from your high school at all, just being able to know someone like your brother to help show you the ropes, not even just with football but how to deal with college and the college life 鈥� I truly appreciate that year. It鈥檚 been something that we鈥檝e thought about growing up and we were finally able to do that 鈥� He taught me a lot of things and gave me insight a lot of quarterbacks wouldn鈥檛 have given a young freshman. That relationship has really helped me and given me confidence these last couple of years when I鈥檝e been on my own.鈥�
The tight bond and the confidence gained from each other is nothing new for the Rourke brothers. For Kurtis, competing with Nathan brought about a lot of his love and competitiveness in the sport, which has not stopped to this day.
鈥淗e鈥檚 meant so much to me and my football career,鈥� Kurtis said. 鈥淲e competed in everything growing up so I got a lot of competitiveness from him and from that relationship with him. We both push each other. He鈥檚 come along so much. He鈥檚 trying to take the best arm in the family but I鈥檓 trying to not let him do that.鈥�
Nathan concluded his Ohio career by leading the Bobcats to three straight bowl games and becoming the first two-time winner of the Jon Cornish Trophy, awarded to the top Canadian player in the NCAA.聽
He amassed nearly 7,500 passing yards, over 2,600 rushing yards and 119 total touchdowns as a Bobcat. His senior year was his best, being named a first team All-MAC player. After his college career, Nathan was selected in the second round of the 2020 CFL Draft by the BC Lions.
After an NFL tryout with the New York Giants this past May, Nathan went back to the Lions for the 2021 season, earning two starts. While he continues to progress as a pro, Kurtis has begun finding the same success Nathan once had at Ohio.
However, the transition to starting quarterback was not always an easy one for Kurtis, simply because of the impact of COVID-19. The pandemic brought about a lot of uncertainty for all college athletes, and the MAC ended up playing a shortened 2020 season in which Ohio was only able to play in three of its six scheduled games.
鈥淚t was just a weird transition,鈥� Kurtis said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nothing that you want to happen. The uncertainty was immense, honestly.鈥�
Yet, Kurtis was able to get a head start on further learning the playbook and growing physically and mentally. By the time he did get to compete on the field, he showed his potential right away, throwing for 231 yards and two touchdowns in his first career start against Central Michigan.
After getting his feet wet in 2020, Kurtis became the full-time starter for the Bobcats this past fall. While his team didn鈥檛 have the season they had hoped for, the redshirt sophomore showed promising flashes, throwing for over 1,800 yards and 11 touchdowns, highlighted by a 308-yard performance against Kent State in October.
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 the season that we were looking forward to as a team and we felt like we underachieved a little bit,鈥� Kurtis said. 鈥淗ad some great moments and great stretch of games 鈥� But personally, there鈥檚 a lot I have to work on and a lot of preparing I have to do. I had some great stretches of games but then I would have some really inconsistent games as well.鈥�
As the Bobcats鈥� team captain continues to work to improve, his biggest goal on the horizon for 2022 is to win a MAC championship. He also wants to get better both mentally and physically, perhaps to the point where he can follow his brother as a pro player.
Being compared to his brother is naturally something that happens a lot for Kurtis. However, he is his own player, and continues to be motivated by the opportunity to make his own name for himself.
鈥淚鈥檝e been living in his shadows for I can鈥檛 even remember how long,鈥� Kurtis said. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 really affect me anymore or bother me because we鈥檙e completely different quarterbacks. We share the same last name and same family, but I think we鈥檙e completely different quarterbacks and I just have a little extra confidence and motivation to prove some of the people wrong who said that I would never reach that potential.鈥�
While both brothers continue to add to the family name, they are also representing Ontario and Canada as a whole.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor to come from Ontario and come from Canada,鈥� Kurtis mentioned. 鈥淚鈥檓 glad that we鈥檙e able to play football at a high level from Canada; that鈥檚 something that never happened a while ago. I鈥檓 grateful to be where I鈥檓 at and hope that I continue to make Ontario and Canada proud.鈥�
Both Kurtis and Nathan have already made their home very proud, but the ultimate way to continue doing so may be pursuing their dreams. With Nathan already in the CFL, Kurtis continues to be motivated to chase a professional career. Playing alongside each other again would be nice, but having the chance to compete against each other at the highest level would be a dream come true.
鈥淚t鈥檚 surreal to see him playing professional football even though I knew he was going to get there eventually,鈥� Kurtis said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 awesome to see him succeeding 鈥� I know he鈥檚 just going to keep getting better. His ultimate goal is the NFL and so I know he鈥檒l get there as well and get a shot there.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 been my goal as well since I was young, to play in the NFL, to play football as long as I can. One of the biggest things that we鈥檝e talked about is not just playing with each other, but playing against each other. It鈥檚 something that would be awesome. That would be the best thing that could ever happen. That鈥檚 one of my goals, that’s one of our goals, and we鈥檙e halfway there. He鈥檚 just waiting on me now.鈥�
