2029 Quarterbacks to keep an eye on

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2029 class is still in the early projection phase, but a handful of Illinois signal callers are already showing traits that translate. Arm talent, functional athleticism, and early command separate this group from typical freshman-level quarterbacks. Here are five young passers trending upward across the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1153936' first='Armani' last='Ford'] — Plainfield South</strong><br>Ford brings one of the more college-projectable builds in the group already. Strong lower half, confident movement in the pocket, and the ability to extend plays make him a natural dual-threat. He throws well on the move and doesn't panic under pressure, which is rare for a quarterback this early in development.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1624921' first='Collin' last='Richards'] — Minooka</strong><br>Richards flashes a balanced skill set with size that stands out among his peers. He can operate inside structure but also has enough mobility to escape and reset. Ball comes out clean with solid mechanics, and his frame suggests plenty of physical upside as he adds strength.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='580467' first='Logan' last='Yang'] — Carmel Catholic</strong><br>Yang is one of the more technically polished passers right now. He wins with timing, accuracy, and rhythm. Shows an understanding of leverage and throws with anticipation rather than waiting for receivers to come open. Development will hinge on physical growth, but the foundation as a passer is strong.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2082558' first='Josh' last='Montell'] — Lemont</strong><br>Montell is a playmaker. Quick feet, sudden movement skills, and natural creativity make him dangerous outside the pocket. He's comfortable throwing off platform and can create explosive plays when protection breaks down. Dynamic traits give him one of the higher ceilings in the group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>David De Leon — Montini Catholic</strong><br>De Leon is an instinctive athlete at the position who plays with confidence. He moves well laterally, keeps his eyes up while scrambling, and shows flashes of arm talent when attacking downfield. As he fills out physically, his versatility could make him a tough matchup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bottom Line:</strong> This Illinois 2029 QB group is defined more by traits than polish right now — which is exactly what you want at this stage. Physical maturation, varsity reps, and live-game processing will ultimately determine who separates, but these five already show early tools worth tracking.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->