Indiana’s Cignetti backs Hoover after turnover dig by Dykes

Indiana coach Curt Cignetti reiterated his support for transfer quarterback Josh Hoover while responding to TCU coach Sonny Dykes’ recent comments about Hoover’s high turnover total.

Dykes, who had Hoover as TCU’s starter for the past two and a half seasons, spoke last week with Frogs Today about the emphasis on reducing turnovers under new offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis.

“Look, numbers are numbers and stats are stats,” Dykes said. “I think Josh started 31 games here at quarterback, and we turned the ball over 40 – he turned the ball over 42 times in those 31 starts. And you look, Gordy was the offensive coordinator last year at Connecticut, and their quarterback turned it over twice.”

Hoover threw 33 interceptions at TCU, passing for 9,629 yards and 71 touchdowns, and completing 65.2 percent of his attempts. He also had nine lost fumbles and 14 total fumbles with the Horned Frogs. Hoover entered the transfer portal in December before TCU’s bowl game and landed with Indiana, where he is in the running to replace Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.

Cignetti praised Hoover’s “body of work” Thursday, highlighting the senior’s wins as a starter, passing yards and touchdown passes.

“We obviously have to clean up some turnovers, which Coach Dykes has made light of,” Cignetti said. “But when Josh got here, he met his two new best friends: great defense and a really good running game, and he was never the same after that.”

TCU ranked 100th nationally in rushing and 73rd in defense last season. Indiana finished 12th nationally in rushing, fourth in total defense and second in points allowed last season, when it went undefeated and won the school’s first national title.

Hoover committed to Indiana as a high school recruit in 2021 before ultimately signing with TCU.