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ATHENS, Ohio— Ohio football alumnus Kurtis Rourke was drafted in the seventh round as the 227th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. Rourke is the first Bobcat alumnus to be drafted since linebacker Quentin Poling in 2018 and the first Canadian quarterback to be drafted since Jesse Palmer in 2001.
 
Rourke (Oakville, Ontario, Canada) appeared in 48 career games with 46 starts, including playing in 36 games with 33 starts over five seasons for the Bobcats (2019-23) prior to transferring to Indiana for the 2024 season. He amassed 11,486 career yards of total offense and accounted for 92 touchdowns (79 passing, 13 rushing) during his collegiate career. 
 
In just one season, Rourke made a name for himself in Bloomington. He set the IU single-season completion percentage mark (.694) as well as the single-season passing touchdowns record (29) and currently ranks No. 5 on the single-season passing yardage charts (3,042). Additionally, he posted the 21^st 2,000-yard passing season in IU history; with 3,007 yards of total offense in a single season, Rourke sits No. 8 in IU history. With three Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week selections, he ranks No. 2 in program history for single-season weekly awards. 
 
Rourke’s 2024 performance was recognized by multiple post-season awards, earning second-team All-Big Ten accolades from the conference coaches and media as well as the Associated Press. He was also a Manning Award finalist and a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award and Davey O’Brien Award. Additionally, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Top Five. Notably, Rourke was the 2024 Jim Cornish Trophy recipient. The Cornish Trophy honors the top Canadian performer in NCAA football; Rourke was a top-five finalist in 2022 (runner-up) and 2023 (third) and his brother, Nathan, is a two-time Cornish Trophy recipient (2017, 2018). 
 
Rourke’s name is etched in the Ohio history books. In 2023, the three-time team captain became the second-leading passer in Ohio history (Nov. 24), bumping Nathan to third. During the 2023 season, Rourke logged 11 starts for the Bobcats, tallying 2,207 passing yards on 307 passes with 195 completions. His performance earned him All-Mid-American Conference Second Team Offense accolades and a Second Team Offense Phil Steele All-MAC Postseason Team nod. 
 
Three of Ohio’s top ten single-game passing yards records are from Rourke’s 2022 season: all-time single-game record— set against Fordham (537) and breaking a record that had held since 1983 while also setting the program record for single-game completions (41)— second (427) and ninth (362). He finished the season with 3,256 passing yards and 244 completions, both of which rank second in program history. Additionally, Rourke averaged the most passing yards per game (296) and passed his brother in the record books with the highest single-season passing efficiency (167.7) in program history. 
 
Rourke’s record-setting performance earned him 2022 MAC Offensive Player of the Year as well as the Vern Smith Leadership Award recognition. He was also named to the Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2022 (Nov. 1), was on 2022 College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) Midseason watchlist, a three-time MAC East Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 5, Sept. 26 and Nov. 7), a two-time Manning Award “Stars of the Week” honoree (Oct. 10 and Nov. 7) and Davey O’Brien Great 8 QB (Nov. 7).
 
The 2021 season marked Rourke’s first time at the helm of the program as a team captain. He played in 10 games, completing 169 passes for 1,801 yards and 11 touchdowns. In 2020, Rourke started in all three of Ohio’s games, going 30-for-44 in the air. 
 
#OUohyeah 
 

After slipping into the fifth round of the NFL Draft, there’s a good chance that new Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders will earn less this season than will his peers who opted to keep playing NCAA ball.

Sanders’ salary will average out to $1,161,845 for each of the next four years, according to salary cap tracker OverTheCap. That compensation is set based on the NFL’s collectively bargained rookie pay scale, making him the 72nd-highest paid QB for 2025. 

But in the uncapped and loosely controlled world of college football, veteran starters are reportedly earning much more. Carson Beck, for instance, is receiving between $3 and $4 million from the University of Miami’s NIL collective, according to multiple reports. Beck briefly declared for this year’s draft in December before opting to enter the transfer portal and jumping from Georgia to UM. Duke QB Darian Mensah also signed a deal believed to be in the $4 million-per-year range this winter after leaving Tulane.

At the beginning of the offseason, On3’s Pete Nakos reported that schools were paying $750,000 to $1.5 million for a proven signal-caller—and as part of his lawsuit against the NCAA, Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia estimated another year of college eligibility would help him earn $1 million, just under Sanders’ starting salary. In total, On3 says at least 19 quarterbacks have an “NIL valuation” above Sanders’ $1.2 million mark, though it’s unlikely all of them have maximized their earning potential.

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers meanwhile reportedly received NIL offers greater than $5 million before entering the 2025 NFL draft. Ewers ultimately went 231st in the seventh round to the Miami Dolphins. If he hangs on with the team, he’ll earn $4.3 million over four years.

Of course, Sanders still has the opportunity to build on his NFL take with additional marketing arrangements. However, his brand appeal as a projected backup remains to be seen—and his focus for now is likely on making the Cleveland team. Nearly 50% of fifth-rounders don’t end up on the initial regular season roster with the team that drafted them. None of Sanders’ salary is guaranteed, according to OverTheCap’s accounting.

“Thank you GOD,” Sanders posted on X after being picked.

After remaining in the NFL’s draft process following a Feb. 7 deadline, Sanders surrendered his remaining NCAA eligibility. Now, in a new world of professionalizing college sports, the former Colorado star could come to represent a very modern lesson in the benefits of staying in school. 

(This story has been updated with where Texas QB Quinn Ewers was taken in the draft.)

Texas football quarterback Quinn Ewers was finally able to exhale Saturday late in the 2025 NFL Draft, taken in the seventh round by the Miami Dolphins (No. 231 overall).

Ewers, who transferred from Ohio State prior to the 2022 season, threw for nearly 9,200 yards and 68 touchdowns in his three years as the Longhorns’ starting quarterback. He also led Steve Sarkisian’s program to its first two College Football Playoff appearances, both ending in the semifinals.

REQUIRED READING: Did Quinn Ewers get drafted? Where Texas QB landed in 2025 NFL Draft

USA TODAY’s Ayrton Ostly gave the Dolphins a live grade of an A for taking Ewers with their seventh-round pick. In Miami, Ewers will compete for the Dolphins’ backup quarterback job, behind Tua Tagovailoa, with former New York Jets first-round pick Zach Wilson.

Here’s what you need to know about Ewers’ contract:

How much money will Quinn Ewers make in NFL?

Ewers is expected to make between $4.31 million and $4.33 million, according to estimates from Spotrac and Over the Cap, respectively.

Looking at Ewers’ NFL salary from a big-picture standpoint, the Dolphins quarterback is set to take a significant pay cut compared to what he could have made in the transfer portal, should he have entered it after last season. Before Texas competed in the College Football Playoff semifinals, there was a report from On3 that said Ewers had an NIL offer of $6 million to enter the transfer portal.

Ahead of the Cotton Bowl vs. Ohio State, Ewers did not confirm or deny the report.

REQUIRED READING: How much will NFL draft rookies be paid? Rookie wage scale, contract details by round

Quinn Ewers NFL contract details

Figures based on estimates courtesy of Spotrac and Over the Cap

• Length: Four years, no club option
• Total money: $4.31 million (Spotrac) | $4.33 million (Over The Cap)

Ewers will receive a fixed and unchangeable four-year rookie contract. Since Ewers was taken in the seventh round, he will not receive a fifth-year rookie team option, something he would have received if he were taken in Thursday’s first round.

If Ewers were to be taken somewhere in the second through sixth rounds, he still would not receive a fifth-year rookie option. Sanders will make between $4.31 million and $4.33 million as the 231st overall pick.

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CINCINNATI – Oklahoma State dropped the second game of its series against Cincinnati with an 11-4 loss Saturday at UC Baseball Stadium.

The Cowboys are now 18-21 overall and 6-11 in Big 12 play, while UC improved to 24-19 and 10-10 in the league.

Cincinnati outhit the Cowboys by a 17-4 margin to clinch the series win.

 

OSU took the game’s initial lead in its first at bat, going up 1-0 on a sacrifice fly by Colin Brueggemann.

But the Bearcats answered in the bottom of the first, plating four runs on five hits to take a 4-1 advantage.

An RBI double by Beau Sylvester in the second cut OSU’s deficit in half, but UC got the run back in the bottom of the frame to make the score 5-2.

Sylvester’s double would be OSU’s lone hit until the eighth inning. With the Cowboys trailing 6-2, a leadoff walk and two singles loaded the bases with no outs. Following a pop out, Brueggemann slashed a two-RBI double to left field to cut the UC lead to 6-4.

But with a pair of runners in scoring position and one out, Christian Mitchelle took the mound and retired the next two Cowboys to escape further damage.

Once again, UC would answer in the bottom of the inning as the Bearcats struck for five runs on three hits against three different Cowboy pitchers to extend their lead to 11-4.

Sunday’s series finale is scheduled for a 12 p.m. (CDT) first pitch.

 

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Three home runs, including a grand slam by Seth Dardar, powered K-State to a 14-5 series-clinching victory over Houston at Tointon Family Stadium Saturday.
 
K-State (26-17, 12-8 Big 12) set the tone early, as the Wildcats scored seven runs between the second and third innings on their way to winning their fifth consecutive win over Houston (22-20, 6-13 Big 12).
 
“We’re starting to play good baseball, and that’s three games in a row,” commented head coach Pete Hughes. “It all starts with good starting pitching. Michael Quevedo was very good today, and didn’t beat himself, allowing us to build a lead.”
 
Before giving up a run in the fourth, Quevedo retired 11 of the first 12 batters he faced as he improved his record to 5-1. The senior lefty from Katy, Texas tossed 6 1/3 innings in his 11^th start of the year, ending his outing with four runs on eight hits while striking out five and walking one.
 
“We played a really good team offense, one through nine. We got big hits, and, more importantly, played great two-out baseball,” Hughes added.
 
Six different Wildcats recorded a hit led by two each from Dardar and Dee Kennedy. In addition to Dardar, Sam Flores and Shintaro Inoue also belted a no-doubter in the win.  
 
The Cats scored multiple runs in three of eight innings, including five in the third and fifth.
 
With the win, K-State recorded its 16^th victory at home, matching a program record 16-1 start set in 2006. The Wildcats have won six of eight series in 2025, including four during Big 12 action.
 
K-State has registered two or more homers in 22 games this season, going 20-2. A total of 13 players have contributed to the team’s 74 home runs in 2025. K-State’s 74 homers rank fourth all-time in school history.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
For the second straight game, K-State jumped on the board in the second inning with a home run, as Sam Flores belted his third homer of the year over the left-center wall.
 
Quevedo retired seven consecutive batters until Tyler Cox recorded the Cougars’ first hit with a single in the third but was left stranded with the Cats picking up two quick outs.
 
Inoue launched his seventh homer 409-feet to center field – his third homer in three games – igniting the Cats five-run third. Maximus Martin was issued a four-pitch walk in the next at-bat before Dardar singled and Keegan O’Connor walked to load the bases, forcing the Cougars to make their second pitching change of the inning.
 
With one out, a fielders choice doubled the lead before the Cats capitalized on a fielding error by the shortstop that plated three runs.
 
Leading 7-1, K-State sent eight to the plate and erupted for five runs in the fifth to put the game away. The Cats’ five-run inning was highlighted by Dardar’s first grand slam at K-State.
 
INSIDE THE BOX

• K-State scored 14 runs on eight hits, committed no errors and left eight runners on base.
• Houston scored five runs on nine hits with four errors and leaving six runners on base.
• Quevedo (5-1) was awarded the win, surrendering four runs on eight hits in his 6 1/3 innings of work with five strikeouts and one walk.
• Dardar and Kennedy went 2-for-4 with Dardar leading the offense with four RBI with his grand slam.
• Dardar, Inoue and Flores each homered.
• Flores scored three runs.
• Solis (1-1) suffered the loss after giving up four runs on four hits in two innings.
• Nine different players tallied a hit for UH.
• K-State went 5-for-18 (.278) with runners on and scored six runs with two outs.

 TEAM NOTES

• K-State leads the all-time series, 7-2, that includes five straight wins in Big 12 play.
• The Cats have won all three series against the Cougars – 2009, 2024, 2025.
• K-State has homered in 32 of 43 games, totaling 74 with 25 in the month of April.
• The 2025 team’s 74 home runs rank fifth all-time in school history.
• K-State tallied its eighth and ninth innings with five or more runs.
• With Dardar’s slam, K-State has registered four grand slams this season by three different players – Martin (2), Evasco, Dardar.

 UP NEXT
Sunday’s series finale between the Cats and Cougars is slated for an 11 a.m. first pitch at Tointon Family Stadium. K-State baseball single-game tickets at Tointon Family Stadium are available, and can be purchased by visiting KStateSports.com, call 1-800-221-CATS (2287), or stopping by the K-State Athletics Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum.