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Early Experience Should Benefit Backup Illini QB Donovan Leary

Quarterback Donovan Leary saw limited reps in Illinois' 45-0 Week 1 shutout against Eastern Illinois.
Zain Bando|
Aug 29, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; The Illinois Fighting Illini team salute their fans at the final of Thursday’s 45-0 game over Eastern Illinois Panthers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 29, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; The Illinois Fighting Illini team salute their fans at the final of Thursday’s 45-0 game over Eastern Illinois Panthers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports | Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Illinois got its season off to a fast start with a 45-0 shutout win against in-state FCS opponent Eastern Illinois last Thursday in Champaign.

The lopsided score allowed lesser-known players to emerge, including sophomore quarterback Donovan Leary. A New Jersey native, he entered the game with it all but locked up after Luke Altmyer dominated the Panthers' defense with a 213-yard and four-touchdown performance.

Despite completing just two of his five pass attempts resulting in 29 yards, including a career-long 18-yard pass, it was enough for offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. to shine light on Leary's first taste of Illinois football.

"There's no substitute for getting a guy out there on that field to now they know, `This is what it feels like," Lunney said. "It's not a whole lot different than practice but there's more people in the stands, the play-clock is the same, there's only 11 guys out there. It was good for him to get his feet wet ... Obviously, he has to be game-ready. I feel good about where he's at right now."

Lunney said that regardless of circumstances, getting a chance to play in a collegiate game should remain the same, no matter what.

"Reps are reps," Lunney said. "Those matter with game reps. There's no substitute for those." 

There also isn't a substitute for losing either. Illinois tries to avoid losing to Kansas for the second consecutive season Saturday night.

It's also the second straight night game for the Illini, part of a three-game home-stand before conference play gets underway later this month.

Zain Bando is a contributor to Illinois Fighting Illini On SI. He can be reached at zainbando99@gmail.com or follow him on X @zainbando99

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Zain Brando
ZAIN BANDO

Bando is a sports journalist based in the Chicago suburbs. He is a proud Fighting Illini (undergrad alumnus) and completed his Master of Science in Journalism at Northwestern's Medill School, focusing on Sports Media. He’s been covering combat sports since June 2019 and collegiate sports since May 2020, featured in The Sporting News, MMA Knockout On SI, Kansas State On SI, BJPenn.com, Field Level Media, SB Nation's Inside NU, MSN, Yardbarker, Deadspin, Reuters, Mike Farrell Sports, NewsNet Media, FanSided, Men's Journal. Hosts a podcast called Bando’s Breakdowns, which premieres weekly at 3 p.m. ET/noon PT Wednesdays on the Empty The Bench Podcast Network