The Hoosiers’ staff has its eyes on the future for the position.
Indiana football is gaining momentum in the recruitment of Jameson Purcell, a 4-star quarterback in the class of 2027. The Hoosiers are projected to ultimately land a commitment from Purcell, according to On3/Rivals vice president for national college football recruiting Steve Wiltfong.
Programs which have extended an official scholarship offer to Purcell offers include Nebraska, Wisconsin, Mississippi, Louisville, Kentucky and Miami, among others. He’s the 21st highest-rated quarterback and 293rd highest-rated prospect overall in the class of 2027, per On3/Rivals.
Indiana has emphasized the quarterback position under Curt Cignetti, a trait athletic director Scott Dolson was looking for in candidates during the coaching search in 2023. Cignetti has mentored countless quarterbacks throughout his career as an assistant and head coach and helped Kurtis Rourke become one of the most effective passers in the country in 2024.
The program’s immediate future at the position is set with Fernando Mendoza, though he’s projected to leave for the NFL Draft after this coming season. The transfer portal has offered immediate answers for the position, namely Rourke and Mendoza, but Cignetti has emphasized high school recruiting as the way he’d like to ultimately build the program.
Purcell has shared details about Indiana’s pursuit in the past, including individual, handwritten letters from staff members including director of player personnel Mike Ferrara and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan:
Feeling the love from IU! Thx @CCignettiIU@MikeFerraraIU@chandlerwhitmer@IndianaFootball@CoachShanahan_@CoachOlaAdams@CoachMeehanF@GageProctor12@Coach_AHiggins@coachgrantcain@jlmcdonald11@Coach_JMill@CoachOjong@IndianaFootball pic.twitter.com/Pz4UGZvHWC
— Jameson Purcell (@jameson_purcell) June 22, 2025
Landing Purcell would give the Hoosiers a foundational piece to build around in the class of 2027.