Nathan Rourke


Nathan Rourke is a Canadian gridiron football quarterback who played college football for the Ohio Bobcats.

Early years

Rourke attended high school for three years at Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School in Oakville, Ontario, before transferring to Edgewood Academy in Elmore, Alabama for his senior season of high school football. He committed to play college football at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, Kansas.

College career

Rourke spent one season at Fort Scott, where he was named first-team All-KJCCC. He then transferred to Ohio University, where he started at quarterback for three years for the Bobcats. Rourke led Ohio to a 25–14 overall record as a starting quarterback for the Bobcats, while leading the team to three consecutive bowl victories in the 2017 Bahamas Bowl, 2018 Frisco Bowl, and the 2020 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

Professional career

Rourke was ranked as the seventh overall prospect entering the 2020 CFL Draft; after being ranked third overall in both September 2019 and December 2019. He was eventually drafted in the second round, 15th overall, by the BC Lions. Rourke was the highest drafted Canadian quarterback since Jesse Palmer in the 2001 CFL Draft.