Illinois Football: 4 observations from the Illini loss to Iowa

2. Again, the QB of the future is not on the roster

I think I have said this on various occasions this season, but the future quarterback for the Illinois football program is most likely not currently on the roster.

That doesn’t mean I don’t like what Samari Collier brings to the table. The kid could end up being a good quarterback. I hope he proves me wrong. But Bret Bielema didn’t bring in most of the players at the quarterback position, and the arms he did bring in, they are just microwave kids who have established themselves as average, at best, quarterbacks.

Obviously, Brandon Peters isn’t the future considering he is gone after this season. Artur Sitkowski hasn’t proved he could be a solid starter in the Big Ten. Collier hasn’t played since joining the Orange and Blue. And the other quarterbacks, Ryan Johnson and Matt Robinson, have either no experience or they weren’t very good when they did get playing time.

The quarterback room for the Illini is a mess. But there is some hope coming into the program.

I think Bret Bielema is going to have to snag a one-year graduate transfer to help Illinois win games next season. But I am optimistic that incoming freshman Donovan Leary can be a good quarterback for this program.

Leary has good blood, as his brother, Devin, is the quarterback for the No. 20 ranked North Carolina State Wolfpack. Devin has thrown for 3,186 yards, 31 touchdowns, and five interceptions this season. If we could get something similar to that out of Donovan, then the Illini will win a lot of games in the future.

While the quarterback of the future is not on the roster right now, I still think the future is bright at the position. I have hope for this program.