Brandon Peters will be Illinois’ starting quarterback, coach Lovie Smith announced Tuesday.
The graduate transfer from Michigan beat out freshman Isaiah Williams and redshirt freshmen Matt Robinson and Coran Taylor during preseason camp.
“We loved Brandon when we got a chance to know him during the recruiting process,” Smith said. “Now that we’ve seen him on the field, he has been everything we thought he would be. He has really thrown the ball well and is a better runner than he’s given credit for.
“Most importantly, he has moved into a leadership role for us. We’re pumped up about Brandon leading us heading into the season.”
Peters is a former four-star recruit and Mr. Football winner in Indiana. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining after playing in 10 games with four starts for the Wolverines.
After a redshirt season, he started four games in 2017, but a concussion sidelined him and then he fell down the depth chart as transfer Shea Patterson took over as the Wolverines quarterback. Peters completed 58 of 110 passes at Michigan for 672 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions in 2017.
Illinois opens its season Aug. 31 against Akron at Memorial Stadium. The Illini host Michigan on Oct. 12.
