Two new QBs share their excitement for Illini, Northwestern
Juice Williams started 44 of Illinois' last 46 games on his way to becoming the school's all-time leader in total offense.
Mike Kafka started just 19 games during his five years at Northwestern, but he improved so rapidly last season the Philadelphia Eagles picked him in the fourth round and spent all of fall camp praising his abilities.
Did we mention Kafka set the NCAA's all-time record for offensive plays in a game when he threw 78 passes and rushed 20 times in the Outback Bowl? He also set all-time bowl record with his 47 completions and 78 attempts.
To put things another way, Illinois redshirt freshman Nathan Scheelhaase and Northwestern redshirt junior Dan Persa have a lot to uphold when they make their first college starts on Saturday.
They've waited so long for these opportunities, let's allow them to tell their own stories.
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Let's start with Scheelhaase, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound Kansas City native who'll have lots of home-state support inside Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.
"I get texts from my friends at Missouri and say, 'We know we're here, but we're still cheering for you.' Those are nice things to see. Nice to feel that love from those guys.
"I don't know how many tickets my mom bought. She bought $15 ones on Ticketmaster the first day they came out. There's got to be 15-20 (friends and family) coming from Iowa. My dad (former Iowa defensive back Nate Creer) has about 10 of his friends coming from different areas. I have some friends coming in from Kansas City."
Scheelhaase was recruited to Illinois by Mike Locksley, who left for New Mexico before the four-star recruit signed his letter of intent. Kurt Beathard was his QB coach last year, but he was fired after last season and Jeff Brohm took his place.
"It's definitely been a crazy up-and-down path, but it's been one that's worked out well. After being through it, I couldn't see it going any other way.
"Having coach Brohm has definitely been great. He's got a record of coaching guys up to playing to the best of their ability. I know all the quarterbacks are excited about what he brings to the table.
"I would (come after me if I was Missouri). I welcome that. We know a lot of things that we can do, whether they quote-unquote 'come after us' or sit back. I say throw it all at me.
"I'm excited about our game plan. I'm not so much worried about what they're going to do and the things they can do. We've got things we've built up all spring and all fall camp to get ready for the whole wash of things."
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Persa, on the other hand, has known nothing but stability at Northwestern since becoming the first quarterback Fitzgerald signed upon taking over the program.
Persa served as Kafka's apprentice last year and played solidly when required to play the second half against Penn State and roughly half the snaps in NU's upset at No. 4 Iowa.
Persa's 4-yard touchdown pass to Drake Dunsmore in the second quarter turned out to be the winning score, but the 6-foot, 210-pound Pennsylvania native who doubles as the team's best-conditioned athlete hasn't thrown a pass that counts since that day.
"If you're not nervous for any game, I think there's probably something wrong with you. I think it's human nature to be a little nervous about your job, but I'm confident.
"I thought I had a pretty good spring and a pretty good summer and a good fall camp. That definitely carries over into the season. I feel really comfortable in the offense that we're running.
"I've been talking to a lot of people. I talk to my dad before every game. I've been talking to (former NU great and offseason tutor Brett Basanez) a lot this week. Talked to Zak Kustok. Talked to Mike (Kafka) the other night.
"Just getting as many viewpoints as I can because they've been through a lot of games and a lot of people have reached out to me to try to show me the ropes a little bit.
"I think the only difference (between last year and this year) is you know you're going to start and you know you're going to have a large impact on the game.
"That kind of fuels me to stay (at the football office), stay on my computer at home and just watch as much film as I can until I fall asleep - and then get up and do it again. I think the more prepared we are, then we'll be the last to quit."
Persa says he never nods off while in the midst of a film review.
"Nah. But I do dream a lot about football."