Former Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke has long been removed from his ACL injury last season, wanting to show NFL teams what a 100 percent healthy version looks like when he hears his name called next month.
In doing so, Rourke remained candid when speaking to the media Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Ind.
"I kind of had some instability issues, but I just wanted to play through it," Rourke said. "I just wanted to make sure I could be available for every game. It wasn't until after the season when I realized at some point from July to the end of the season that it fully tore."
Rourke guided Indiana to the College Football Playoff in Curt Cignetti's first season as coach, which pushed Rourke into going the extra mile to help his team win. Despite the early College Football Playoff exit against Notre Dame, Rourke said the experience made him a better quarterback he can be.
"I was healthy enough to play and that's all that mattered to me," Rourke added.
Rourke didn't specify a preference as to where he'd want to suit up at the NFL level, but reitterated all. he is looking for is raising his game and. proving any of his potential preconceived notions wrong.
"I want to tell teams that, if I did that on a torn ACL and a broken thumb, imagine what I could do when I'm fully healthy."
Even though he wasn't all season, Rourke still threw for 3,042 yards and 29 touchdowns en route to an 11-2 mark, the best Hoosiers' season in recent memory.
Now, it'll be up to Indiana to replicate the same type of season next fall, if not win a few more games in the process.
The Hoosiers are aiming for consecutive College Football Playoff appearances for the first time in school history, as they were one of the sport's surprise stories last season.