Illinois Football Lands Top-30 2028 Quarterback Owen Herrick

The Illini have added one of the more intriguing quarterbacks in the 2028 class, giving the program a potential future starter with plenty of time to develop.

Throughout the Bret Bielema era, Illinois has relied almost exclusively on the transfer portal at quarterback. The program has yet to open a season with a quarterback who originally signed with the Illini out of high school.

Luke Altmyer, a transfer from Ole Miss, handled the position for three seasons before East Carolina transfer Katin Houser took over. Before Altmyer, Illinois turned to another transfer in Tommy DeVito.

That pattern could eventually change thanks to Owen Herrick.

Herrick, a 2028 quarterback from Pittsburgh, announced his commitment to Illinois on Wednesday, giving the Illini an intriguing young signal-caller who could eventually become a homegrown option at the position.

Owen Herrick’s background

Herrick is a 6-foot-2, 185-pound quarterback who plays for Pittsburgh Central Catholic. According to the 247Sports composite rankings, he is currently the No. 28 quarterback in the 2028 class and No. 419 nationally.

The Pennsylvania prospect chose Illinois despite receiving offers from several other notable programs, including Nebraska, Ole Miss and Arkansas.

His commitment gives the Illini another promising piece to build around as they look toward the next several seasons.

Owen Herrick scouting report

Herrick’s accuracy and touch on short and intermediate throws immediately stand out. He consistently puts the ball in advantageous locations for his receivers and shows the arm strength to fit passes into tight windows.

The right sideline appears to be one of his favorite areas of the field. He can also deliver accurate throws over the middle, including comeback routes, seam passes and throws that split defenders between levels of coverage.

Herrick has demonstrated the ability to make plays while moving outside the pocket as well. He is comfortable throwing in either direction, although he appears more natural rolling toward his right rather than throwing back across his body.

One of his more impressive qualities is his poise from the pocket. Herrick isn’t easily rattled when pressure arrives. He can remain in place as a pass-rusher closes in, absorb the pressure and still make an accurate throw downfield.

His pocket awareness is another positive. Herrick appears capable of recognizing when the pocket is beginning to collapse and sensing pressure coming from behind. Rather than automatically scrambling, he makes adjustments and continues to look for opportunities downfield.

While he isn’t necessarily a traditional dual-threat quarterback, Herrick has enough athleticism to make defenses account for him as a runner. His team has used designed quarterback runs, and Herrick isn’t hesitant to take off when the opportunity presents itself.

That combination of passing ability, pocket presence and functional mobility gives him an intriguing foundation to work with.

Could Owen Herrick become Illinois’ quarterback of the future?

Katin Houser is expected to lead Illinois in 2026, while the program could potentially turn to one of its own high school recruits after that. Michael Clayton II appears to be one possibility for 2027, with current sophomore Carson Boyd and the transfer portal also potentially entering the picture.

By the time Herrick arrives in Champaign for the 2028 season, the quarterback room could look completely different.

Because of the unpredictable nature of modern college football, projecting a depth chart several years into the future is difficult. Transfer decisions, development and recruiting can all reshape a position group quickly.

Herrick’s arrival would give him time to learn the system and adjust to the college game before potentially making a push for a larger role.

If his development continues along its current trajectory, he could enter the competition for the starting job as early as his second season on campus. Whether he ultimately becomes QB1 will depend on the roster around him and how much he develops between now and then.

For Illinois, however, the commitment represents an important opportunity to develop a quarterback from the high school level rather than continually relying on the transfer portal to fill the position.