Illinois
Fighting Illini

That choice turns out to be redshirt freshman Jacob Charest instead of McGee, who'll split his preparation time between slot receiver and quarterback. Charest, who made his college debut in a relief role on Oct. 24, has earned the coaches' trust with his solid play and aversion to mistakes. In his pair of relief appearances, Charest has hit 14 of 27 passes for 237 yards and one touchdown.

"Jacob's one of them guys, he's a hard guy to read," Illinois coach Ron Zook said in the Daily Herald. "I know his father (Scott) talked about that in recruiting: 'Don't read Jacob wrong.' I didn't know quite what he meant, but I understand that now. He's not a rah-rah guy. He's not a guy who's all over the place. Jacob's like this (Zook makes an impassive face). If Jacob throws a great pass, it's going to be the same as if he throws a pass that's not so good. Which I guess is good for him."

Charest apparently would make an excellent poker player, because the prospect of making his first career start on Saturday has him revved-up. Well, maybe a little bit.

"It doesn't feel too much different," Charest told the Champaign News-Gazette. "I just know a lot more of the responsibility is on me this week. It seems like in the last four weeks, time has fast-forwarded about two years. It's all just happened so fast."

SERIES HISTORY: Illinois leads 52-45-5 (last meeting, 2008, 27-10 Northwestern).

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: Illinois continues to rank last among Big Ten teams in scoring (20.7 points per game) and passing (181.2 yards per game), but offensive coordinator Mike Schultz' group has been much more effective the last two weeks. Juice Williams hit all five of his passes before leaving with a sprained ankle last week while freshman Jacob Charest hit 10 of 19 passes for 185 yards and his first career TD. Sophomores Jason Ford and Mikel Leshoure give the Illini alternating bruisers in the backfield, while WR/TE Jeff Cumberland suddenly has regained threat status after shifting back to tight end.

?? SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: It's amazing what happens when the defensive line starts spending its time in the offensive backfield. Illinois produced just seven sacks in its first seven games, but posted four sacks against Michigan and then seven sacks against Minnesota. DT Josh Brent and DE Clay Nurse, a pair of juniors, are coming of age as difference-makers. Nurse had four sacks against Minnesota while Brent earned 2.5 tackles for loss. Senior safety Donsay Hardeman's return to the lineup makes Illinois' back end that much better as well.

?? QUOTE TO NOTE: "He's a tough guy. Obviously, we're not going to do anything to put him in any situation that would be a detriment to him. But on the same token, he's tough. I've seen him play over the last four years with a lot of things that some guys may not play with. I'm not saying he's going to play, but I'm cautiously optimistic as to where we are right now. I would say you'd probably see him in uniform." -- Illinois coach Ron Zook on senior quarterback Juice Williams' health status. He suffered what appeared to be a high left ankle sprain on Saturday at Minnesota and missed the final three quarters.

?

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

???QB Jacob Charest -- It's not official, but it looks like the redshirt freshman from North Carolina will make his first career start on Saturday. What has he done in his two relief appearances against Purdue and Minnesota? He has completed 14 of 27 passes for 237 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Illinois' coaches are impressed by his poise and calm demeanor. Charest doesn't run the spread-option or zone reads the way Juice Williams does (he has one carry for one yard), but coach Ron Zook says he does have the ability to escape trouble.

RB Jason Ford -- Perhaps it's because classmate Mikel Leshoure started piling up 100-yard games and getting most of the playing time, but this sophomore has ramped up his game the last two weeks. He had 12 carries for 128 yards and one touchdown two weeks ago against Michigan, then earned the start last week and put up 82 yards and another touchdown in a team-high 20 carries. Ford is a bruiser who'd just as soon run through you as around you.

WR Arrelious Benn -- Though injuries have been the acclaimed junior's constant companion this year, he still leads the Illini with 29 catches and 339 yards. More important to the team, Benn recorded his first receiving touchdown in 14 games last week against Minnesota. That gives him TDs in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.

?? ROSTER REPORT:

--QB Juice Williams (left ankle sprain) is questionable for Saturday's game against Northwestern. Coach Ron Zook says he's cautiously optimistic Williams will play, but didn't say whether that means he'll start.

--TE Michael Hoomanawanui (high ankle sprain) practiced early in the week and Ron Zook is confident "Uh-Oh" will get to play for the first time in three weeks.

--TE Hubie Graham has missed the last two games, but the more recent miss was for a family funeral. He's expected to be ready to go for Northwestern.

--MLB Martez Wilson (neck) and CB Miami Thomas (knee) are out for the rest of the year after undergoing surgery.