It appears that recently appointed Illini starting QB Nathan Scheelhasse has gotten a “mandate” or “vote of confidence” by default. The redshirt freshman wasn’t granted an actual vote of confidence, or a mandate from the coaching staff, it’s just now he has no competition breathing down his neck. True freshman Chandler Widmer never stepped up, and Jacob Charest is now exiting stage left. He left the team and returned to his family home in North Carolina.
By Paul M. Banks
Adam Rittenberg from ESPN.com reports:
Charest left Illinois about a week ago and will explore his transfer options after being granted his release, a source told The (Champaign) News-Gazette. He reportedly made his decision to leave Illinois before coach Ron Zook announced that redshirt freshman Nathan Scheelhaase would be the team’s starting quarterback entering the 2010 season.