QB Pete DiNovo transfers to Illinois, eligible immediately

#1      

Dan

Dan
Admin
Dan
Pete DiNovo, the former East Lake High standout who left UCF's program last month, has landed at Illinois.

DiNovo said he transferred to the Illini as a walk-on quarterback to complete his final year of eligibility. His first practice was Monday afternoon.

"I couldn't be happier with the way everything turned out," DiNovo said. "I can come up here and learn from Lovie (Smith) and everyone else on the coaching staff."

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/former-ucfeast-lake-qb-pete-dinovo-lands-at-illinois/2337889
Click to expand...
 
#6      

Lake Camelot

L
Lake Camelot
Lake Camelot said:
So, is there a former pro player from a different sport on campus? This is the second mysterious post about someone coming to Ill.

Really wonder what is going on. Anybody get injured that quit playing QB and is still on campus?
Click to expand...

Well, there is the answer.
 
#7      

OrangeSoda

OrangeSoda
OrangeSoda
But is an underused pro-style QB really gonna bring any competition? I get that he was highly touted as high schooler. Since then he has been :hurl:
 
#8      

Serious Late

Serious Late
Peoria via Denver via Ann Arbor via Albuquerque vi
Serious Late
Is it possible he ends up our starting QB? His first practice was today according to the article. I have a tough time believing he can have a legitimate impact jumping in this late, but watching our QB play on Friday, I dunno.
 
#9      

Lake Camelot

L
Lake Camelot
OrangeSoda said:
But is an underused pro-style QB really gonna bring any competition? I get that he was highly touted as high schooler. Since then he has been :hurl:
Click to expand...

That is what I thought also. But anyone who can complete a few passes this year is fine with me. Next QB will hopefully be more of a ft for Mcgee's offense.
 
#11      

FT35

FT35
Naperville
FT35
OrangeSoda said:
But is an underused pro-style QB really gonna bring any competition? I get that he was highly touted as high schooler. Since then he has been :hurl:
Click to expand...

This is about as good as you're going to get as far as adding a player during the season. Worst case scenario is that he adds depth. There's really no downside to this although looking at this a little bit closer it's hard to imagine him having much of an impact.

Our options at QB are abysmal :(
 
#12      

StateFarmCenter

StateFarmCenter
StateFarmCenter
OrangeSoda said:
But is an underused pro-style QB really gonna bring any competition? I get that he was highly touted as high schooler. Since then he has been :hurl:
Click to expand...

We have the worst QB depth chart in the whole country. I swear in training camp the coaches would basically say JG is bad, but in polite media speak. Anything is possible for this kid.

But yeah what this is is so they never have to play Thomas. Can't emphasise enough how much they don't want to play him. They're going to play Miller over him at this point if nothing is on the oine.
 
#15      

BMo79

B
BMo79
OrangeSoda said:
But is an underused pro-style QB really gonna bring any competition? I get that he was highly touted as high schooler. Since then he has been :hurl:
Click to expand...



he didn't look like a pro style qb to me, he looks like he can throw better then Crouch and can run better then JGJ, heck he isn't that far behind in starting as an illini then either of them either, So guess he has 2 weeks to learn the play book and see what happens . But no I do not think he will be starting any time soon. It does tell me that this staff is looking to improve the team even pulling something like this out of the hat. Its a win win no matter if he ever plays or not to me
 
#17      

breadman

B
Herndon, VA
breadman
It will definitely be interesting to see how this plays out. Depth is definitely what we need at all positions.
 
#18      

IlliniJim20

I
IlliniJim20
StateFarmCenter said:
We have the worst QB depth chart in the whole country. I swear in training camp the coaches would basically say JG is bad, but in polite media speak. Anything is possible for this kid.

But yeah what this is is so they never have to play Thomas. Can't emphasise enough how much they don't want to play him. They're going to play Miller over him at this point if nothing is on the oine.
Click to expand...

is this due to lack of confidence ( overall, not just b/c he is a freshman) or really wanting to redshirt him?
 
#19      

FT35

FT35
Naperville
FT35
IlliniJim20 said:
is this due to lack of confidence ( overall, not just b/c he is a freshman) or really wanting to redshirt him?
Click to expand...

Not to answer for SFC but the staff doesn't think he's ready to run a college offense as of yet. He's still learning the playbook and they really don't want to waste a year of eligibility when he would have, more than likely, a negative impact.

Overall, you could argue that a move like this shows that they have more confidence in Thomas in the long-term. They genuinely feel like he is their QB of the future and no one would argue that 2021 Thomas is > 2017 Thomas. If they didn't have that much confidence in him then they probably wouldn't care about the lost year of eligibility. Just look at how many true Freshmen they have played, including a couple of guys who have only played on Special Teams so far (Smith and Mondesir).

Anything can happen between now and 2021 but that's the rational behind adding someone like this.
 
#21      

Mike55

Mike55
Mike55
BMo79 said:
he didn't look like a pro style qb to me, he looks like he can throw better then Crouch and can run better then JGJ, heck he isn't that far behind in starting as an illini then either of them either, So guess he has 2 weeks to learn the play book and see what happens . But no I do not think he will be starting any time soon. It does tell me that this staff is looking to improve the team even pulling something like this out of the hat. Its a win win no matter if he ever plays or not to me
Click to expand...

Not that it'll make him the starter, but he's had our playbook for close to a month.
 
#22      

FC Illiniman

F
FC Illiniman
SescIllini said:
Dinovo was off UCF radar and was converted to WR. He is our 3rd string QB at best IMHO.
Click to expand...

After Friday night, anything is worth a shot. He's not inexperienced, but would have to go through alot to have shot at starting. Crouch has looked very confused, JGJ is not going to get it done. At least Lovie not afraid to look at other options. Guess some would rather complain and whine about QB situation, myself, I think it would be worth a shot.;)