Indiana's head coach Curt Cignetti is standing firmly behind his new quarterback, Josh Hoover, despite the chatter surrounding Hoover's turnover troubles at TCU. With a touch of his signature humor, Cignetti made it clear that he's not overly concerned about Hoover's past interceptions.
Hoover, who was a staple in TCU's lineup for three seasons, racked up 33 interceptions. Yet, Cignetti remains optimistic about his potential.
"He's got a solid track record of winning games, racking up passing yards, and throwing touchdowns," Cignetti remarked. "Sure, the turnovers need some work, but he's now got two new best friends: a strong defense and a solid running game."
Cignetti couldn't resist adding a playful wink to his comment.
Sonny Dykes, Hoover's former coach at TCU, also acknowledged the turnover issues during a chat on Frogs Today. He highlighted the contrast between Hoover's stats and the performance of UConn's quarterback under new offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis.
"Josh started 31 games and turned the ball over 42 times," Dykes noted. "Meanwhile, Sammis' quarterback at Connecticut only had two turnovers last year.
That's the level we're aiming for."
It's true that Hoover's turnover rate was a concern, especially in critical moments. Last season, his turnover percentage hit a career-high of 3.1%.
However, TCU's offensive strategy, led by Kendal Briles, leaned heavily on the passing game. Hoover threw nearly 1,200 passes over three seasons, with 471 attempts in his sophomore year alone.
Meanwhile, TCU's rushing offense struggled, ranking 100th and 113th in the past two seasons.
Cignetti believes that Hoover will thrive in Indiana's system, which differs significantly from TCU's pass-heavy approach. "Our offense is more balanced," Cignetti explained.
"Last year, we were 60% run and 40% pass. That balance can really ease the pressure on a quarterback."
Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza's journey is a testament to this approach. During Indiana's national title run, Mendoza's passing attempts dropped from 35.1 per game at California to just 23.7.
This shift led to a surge in his performance metrics, boosting his completion percentage, touchdown rate, yards per attempt, and passer rating. Now, Mendoza is eyeing the top spot in the 2026 NFL Draft.
With a strong support system and a more balanced offensive strategy, Hoover could be poised for a successful stint with the Hoosiers.