Canadian QB Nathan Rourke's contract with Jacksonville Jaguars includes over $200,000 USD in guaranteed moneyhttps://t.co/5YJ6e6xhlp#BCLions #CFL #DUUUVAL #Jaguars #NFL pic.twitter.com/7EVoyavc2G
— Justin Dunk (@JDunk12) March 8, 2023
Rourke will compete with last year's backup C.J. Beathard for QB2 duties behind Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence is a former first-overall pick coming off a Pro Bowl season, so his place atop the depth chart is secured. Rourke will have to show something in preseason or wait for an injury in order to truly prove himself to NFL evaluators.
Rourke was born in Victoria, British Columbia and played some high school football in Oakville, Ontario before transferring to Edgewood Academy in Elmore, Alabama for his senior year. He played his college ball at the University of Ohio, compiling 7457 passing yards and 2034 rushing yards with 109 total touchdowns in three seasons with the Bobcats. He was passed over in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Rourke proved himself a meticulous and efficient passer in his second season with the Lions, passing for 334.9 yards per game with an eye-popping 78.7 completion percentage and a 123.6 passer rating. He also added 30.4 rushing yards per game at 7.8 yards per attempt. Still only 24, Rourke has shown the tools necessary to earn a chance at football's highest level.
Rourke wouldn't be the first former CFL quarterback to find success in the NFL. The gold standard remains Warren Moon, who won five Grey Cups with the Edmonton Eskimos before beginning his Hall of Fame career in the NFL. Joe Theismann, Doug Flutie, and Jeff Garcia also had long, successful careers after stints in the CFL.
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