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Illinois Football: Projected Illini depth chart on offense for 2021

By Rees Woodcock

Nov 21, 2020; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback quarterback Brandon Peters throws during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2020; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback quarterback Brandon Peters throws during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 12, 2020; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Brandon Peters (18) looks to pass against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /

The Illinois football season is less than three weeks away, so it is time to start getting excited about what we are going to see on the field in 2021.

Honestly, this might be the best Illini team I have seen on the football field in over a decade. The offense has a tremendous amount of talent at every position. There is no reason we shouldn’t be a top 20 team in the country in points per game.

Overall, I can’t wait to see the Orange and Blue competitive again on a national level. We should make a bowl game and win one for the first time since 2011.

Here is the projected Illinois football depth chart on offense for 2021.

Quarterback

Starter: Brandon Peters

The starter coming into the 2021 campaign is most likely going to be Brandon Peters. He has now spent two seasons with the Illini, and he should be the man under center for the Nebraska game.

I wouldn’t look too much into the 2020 campaign as that season was marred by COVID and injuries. The first year Peters was in Champaign, 2019, is the year I am looking at as a benchmark. He threw for 1,884 yards, 18 touchdowns and 8 interceptions that season. Illinois also made a bowl game. Improving on those numbers should be a goal for Peters in 2021. I also think surpassing the 55.3-percent completion percentage should be a goal for the talented veteran as well.

Backup: Artur Sitkowski

Illinois managed to pick up more quarterback depth this offseason, as Artur Sitkowski transferred in after three years with Rutgers.

Sitkowski couldn’t get his feet underneath him with the Scarlet Knights. Things will hopefully be different now that he is in Champaign. He could end up being a great bridge quarterback to the future as well. Sitkowski is only a redshirt sophomore, so he has two years of eligibility after this season. If he can learn behind Peters, look for Sitkowski to step into the starting role in 2022.

Backup: Matt Robinson

The third quarterback on the depth chart shouldn’t matter much this season, but I have Matt Robinson popping up in this role. I don’t see Robinson playing much if at all in 2021. I also wouldn’t be shocked to see a couple of other quarterbacks attempt to move up into the No. 3 spot on the quarterback depth chart.

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