http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/4155
Scheelhaase named Illinois' starting QB

It's rare for someone to be declared the winner of a starting job in June, but redshirt freshman Nathan Scheelhaase has done that.

On Wednesday, almost six weeks since Illinois' spring game, coach Ron Zook named The Kansas City native as the winner of a derby between redshirt sophomore Jacob Charest and true freshman Chandler Whitmer.

Here's the official word out of Champaign:

"Following spring ball, our coaching staff had some time to review the quarterback situation and felt Nathan proved himself as a leader both on and off the field," Zook said. "He showed the ability to run Coach Petrino's offense at a high level, and we thought it was important to establish Nathan as a team leader entering summer workouts."

Scheelhaase is a redshirt freshman from Kansas City, who led Rockhurst High School to a state title as a junior and was named the Kansas City Metro Player of the Year as a senior after passing for 1,726 yards and 17 touchdowns, while rushing for 864 yards and 18 scores.

I think that was pretty much as expected. Charest didn't show enough to get people excited. And I think Illinois needs some real offensive leadership... and having a QB controversy heading into Fall practice in not a good way to get that leadership.

Charest Leaving.

Less than a week ago, head coach Ron Zook officially named Nate Scheelhaase as Illinois' starting quarterback.


Today, Zook finds himself down a scholarship player at the position as perhaps collateral damage from that decision.


According to the Champaign News-Gazette, redshirt freshman Jacob Charest has decided to transfer and ply his football wares elsewhere.


While the paper writes that Charest's decision was made before the Illini publicly named Scheelhaase as the starter entering summer camp, it was believed following spring practice that Scheelhaase had played well enough to be the presumptive leader ahead of Zook's official announcement.


As for Charest's future, the paper writes that the QB is exploring his options. The reported "main reason" for Charest's transfer is to be closer to his family in Charlotte, NC, so any school within a certain radius of that city would seem to be in play.

Jeff Kinney's place in the Illinois record books remains secure.

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