By Justin Worsley
After a miserable 3-9 campaign, the Illinois Fighting Illini bid farewell to former quarterback Juice Williams and welcomed an open competition for the position this Spring.
Head coach Ron Zook announced on Wednesday that redshirt freshman Nathan Scheelhaase has stepped up to take the position, beating out sophomore Jacob Charest and true freshman Chandler Whitmer along the way. Williams was the starting quarterback for the Fighting Illini during his entire college career.
Charest played in four games last season, including a game against Minnesota where he entered in the first-quarter after Williams left the game with an ankle injury. Charest led Illinois to victory, throwing for 185 yards and one touchdown. Charest is the only quarterback on the roster with playing experience.
The rise of Scheelhaase will also most likely cause Illinois to redshirt Whitmer. Scheelhaase will make his first collegiate start on Sept. 4 against Missouri in St. Louis.
Scheelhaase won the 2008 Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year Award after leading Rockhurst High School to a state championship. The 6'3" 195-pound quarterback passed for 1,861 yards and threw for 20 touchdowns while only throwing five interceptions. Scheelhaase is also deceptively fast, clocking in a 4.5-second 40-yard dash. He ran for 917 yards and added another 14 touchdowns with his feet that season.
Illinois went 2-6 in the Big Ten Conference last season, but did show some signs of potential. The Fighting Illini were able to defeat Michigan for the second consecutive season and fell just short in their season finale against Fresno State. Hopefully the new quarterback on the block will help turn the tables in a constantly competitive Big Ten Conference.
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