Illinois Football: Brandon Peters’ return at QB provides boost for Illini
By Zain Bando
After missing two games against UTSA and Virginia, Illinois football quarterback Brandon Peters will retake his place under center.
The Illini currently sit at 1-2 entering its third home game of the Bret Bielema era. No one said that year one would be easy, but the Orange and Blue went through some major growing pains in subsequent losses to UTSA and Virginia.
These defeats also took place without the help of Illinois’ primary starting quarterback. Peters suffered a shoulder injury on his non-throwing arm in a week one win against Nebraska, in which the Illini held on for a 30-22 opening day triumph.
Entering a week four contest with Maryland marks a major test for the young program, along with the opportunity for Peters to showcase his leadership abilities as the No. 1 signal-caller on the depth chart.
Bielema addressed the news during his weekly press conference, re-emphasizing the fact that Peters would eventually retain his duties upon his return to the field. Peters helped lead the Illini to a bowl game appearance in 2019, as he engineered a 25-point comeback in a road win against Michigan State that helped clinch a sixth win and bowl berth.
"“I had the conversation with Art (on Sunday), brought him in, talked about where we’re at, and what we’re doing. It wasn’t anything that he did or didn’t do well. He played extremely well, especially the way he first entered the game going back to the Nebraska game,’’ Bielema said. “I told him if the roles were exactly reversed, if he was the starter and knocked out of the game and (Peters) came in, we would do the exact same thing 100 times over.’’"
A win would do wonders for Illinois football.
Remaining perfect in Big Ten play will only benefit Illinois as the season progresses. The schedule gets tougher, as two of the next four games will see the Illini face inner-conference foes in Purdue and Wisconsin. Therefore, a win against Maryland should serve as a springboard for things to come.
dark. Next. Prediction for week three vs. Maryland
The kickoff is set for 8 p.m. CT on FS1.