On November 22nd, when Penn State visits Illinois, the game could have an intriguing story line. Not just because it will like be Tim Beckman’s final game as head coach (he is 1-19 and counting versus power five conference teams). You could see the #1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Christian Hackenberg, versus another QB who might be drafted that year.
Or perhaps the third year sophomore Wes Lunt will have to wait until 2017. This season, when you see Lunt play in the 4th quarter, he looks like a first round NFL Draft pick. Then again when you see him throw in the first half, at least this year, he’s looked like someone who will have stay all four years and then hope to maybe catch on as a free agent in the league.
Thus far, Lunt has thrown for 1,237 yards (ninth-most in FBS) and 11 touchdowns (eighth-most in FBS) during his first four games as an Illini. His 154.08 passing effeciency ranks 31st in FBS. In the fourth quarter this season Wes Lunt has completed 28-of-34 passes for 388 yards with five touchdowns and zero interceptions. Lunt is tied for the FBS lead in fourth-quarter TDs (5), is second in yards (388) and completion percentage (82.4), and third in passing efficiency (226.74 – min. 10 att.).
As I pointed out during my weekly radio spot on 1620 the Zone yesterday, Lunt has done it without much of a running game at all. Up until the second half of last Saturday’s come from behind win over Texas State, the Illini really haven’t run the ball at all. So that’s both a testament to his abilities and a reason for why his numbers are somewhat inflated. In 2014, Illinois has constantly been behind in the second half, yes even versus lowly FCS and mid-major opponents, so Lunt has to keep throwing all the time.
Still, aside from Hackenberg and Connor Cook, who really is a better Big Ten QB than Wes Lunt? Not many. There was NFL talk surrounding Wes Lunt long before he got to Champaign. At Oklahoma State he got lost in a numbers game on the depth chart, and it was in his best interests to go elsewhere.
Lunt has shown big-play ability early in the season. He ranks fourth nationally with 10 pass plays of 30+ yards and is tied for fourth in FBS with two pass plays of 60+ yards. Interestingly enough, his 10 30+-yard plays have gone to five different receivers.
Then again, he looked really ordinary versus Washington, a very middle of the pack Pac 12 team. Lunt’s numbers are sort of inflated from facing inferior competition. Still, he has a NFL frame, size and stature. He’s a throwback to the golden age of Illini quarterbacking in the 1980s and early 1990s. It started with Dave Wilson, and then went Tony Eason, Jack Trudeau, Jeff George and then ended with Jason Verduzco; who had his moments but didn’t end up anything special.
Then Illinois had some hot garbage at the position up until Kurt Kittner, who broke all the school passing records and had a cup of coffee in the NFL. Actually, he had a few servings as he stuck around in the league long enough to qualify for the NFL pension. Then came a bunch of train wrecks and forgettable messes until Juice Williams and Nathan Scheelhaase. Both broke a few records, mostly because they started so many games. Williams and Scheelhaase did some great things, but also had very inconsistent careers.
So in other words, Wes Lunt is good; but he looks really great when compared against what’s been in Champaign lately.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partners with Fox Sports and Yahoo. Read his features stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him on 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks) His work has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The Washington Post and ESPN2