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Bret Bielema settled on QB1 for Illinois, mum on who will start in Week 0
Published:
Bret Bielema is still not budging on revealing who his starting QB is with the 1st set of college football games set to begin on Saturday.
Bielema has apparently already decided who will be his starting quarterback, but insists on keeping it a secret for as long as possible. He stated that his job is to put Illinois in the best position to win football games.
The only people at Illinois football who know who the starting QB is are Bielema, the rest of the team, and the starter themselves.
Illinois fans will have to wait until the season opener to see if Artur Sitkowski or Syracuse transfer Tommy DeVito will be starter. Bielema mentioned the relationship that the 2 QBs have built during the offseason, and that Sitkowski just wants what is best for Illinois football.
Illinois OC Barry Lunney Jr. stated that he has 3 commandments when it comes to the starting QB. They must communicate with the line, protect the ball, and make plays when they present themselves.
The QB battle may be over in Champaign, but people will have to wait to find out who QB1 will be. Illinois opens the 2022 season against Wyoming on Aug. 27 at 4 p.m. ET on BTN.
This is what Bielema had to say about the QB situation:
#illini Bret Bielema: I know who the starting QB is, the starting QB knows who the starting QB is and the team knows.
Won’t announce it.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) August 22, 2022
#illini Bret Bielema: DeVito and Sitkowski have built a strong relationship.
“Two kinda different guys, but they get along really well.” Said Sitkowski wants what’s best for Illinois football.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) August 22, 2022
#illini OC Barry Lunney Jr.: The starting QB must communicate with line, protect the ball “and ultimately make plays” that present themselves.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) August 22, 2022
#illini Bret Bielema said he doesn’t want to make media’s job harder in restricting practice access and not name starter but says his job is to put Illinois in its best chance to succeed.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) August 22, 2022
Grant Bricker covers the B1G for Saturday Tradition. His previous stops include the Williamson Homepage and Nashville Post.