The transfer portal was good to Lovie Smith and Illinois this offseason, adding several big names to the roster since the end of the 2018 season. Several players will be able to make an immediate impact, but perhaps the greatest addition for the Illini was quarterback Brandon Peters.

Illinois’ quarterback situation has been a bit of a whirlwind since Smith took over. The program has lacked consistency at the position and has rotated in several guys under center throughout the past three years.

Peters, who transferred from Michigan following the spring season, has a chance to change that for the Illini. And he gets pretty high marks from his former head coach Jim Harbaugh.

“Brandon brings a lot to the table,” Harbaugh said at B1G Media Days. “He’s 6-4, athletic, very strong arm, and a very sharp guy. I support Brandon in his decision to transfer and I wish him great success.”

Peters’ playing time was scattered throughout his first two seasons in Ann Arbor. He made four starts for Michigan in 2017, as the program dealt with a slew of injuries at the position. He threw for 672 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions while appearing in six games.

Last fall, Peters didn’t see nearly the same amount of snaps. With Shea Patterson running the show, Peters played in just four games, throwing just two passes.

With Illinois not having a returning quarterback with any experience, there’s a good chance Peters will be the starter from Day 1 of fall camp. He will find himself in a battle with incoming freshman Isaiah Williams, a four-star dual-threat player.

Still, Peters brings something to the table that Illinois hasn’t had in quite some time. And he gets the stamp of approval from Harbaugh.