Illinois Football: 2023 quarterback Reese Mooney earns Illini offer

The search for the Illinois football team’s future signal-caller continues, as the program offered 2023 quarterback, Reese Mooney out of Louisiana.

Mooney is a 6-foot-1, 191-pound quarterback and is currently ranked as the No. 12 quarterback in the country and the third-best in the state of Louisiana by 247Sports. Along with those accolades, he currently sits as a three-star recruit.

The Illini offered the Denham Springs product on March 29, as Mooney has received looks from some of the nation’s most consistent programs. To name a few, Mooney has interest from West Virginia, Miami, Cincinnati, Colorado, and Houston.

Mooney’s Crystal Ball projection has him leaning toward Nebraska, although that might change as his high school football career progresses.

As for on-the-field, the Yellowjackets endured a rough season that saw the varsity squad finish 1-7 overall with a 1-3 conference record. Despite the lack of success, Mooney was the one bright spot that kept the team afloat in the majority of its games throughout the season, which could mean a sign of things to come for the future. He threw his first touchdown pass at the varsity level in an October 7 loss to Assumption, but the laser accuracy is what could make him a highly-touted prospect in the years to come.

What could Reese Mooney bring to the Illinois football team?

At the moment, there is a lot of upside when it comes to Mooney’s future. He has shown that he can demonstrate the mechanical techniques that will make him successful in the pocket. Given time, Mooney’s deep ball is one to watch, which is something that Illinois has struggled with regarding quarterbacks of years past.

Another upside is that the majority of his major offers reside in the Midwest. A plethora of teams need quarterbacks to have sustained success, and with Bret Bielema’s ties to Arkansas and the SEC, it comes as no surprise that he wants to target that region.

Mooney’s Hudl highlights can be viewed below, showcasing his best throws while part of the varsity squad during the 2020-21 season.

It will be interesting to follow Mooney’s recruitment in the years to come, but without question, this is a prospect that the Orange and Blue should fall back on when the time comes.