Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase is for all intents and purposes, the team's offense. In 2011 he completed 63% of his passes, throwing for 2,110 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also lead the team in rushing, gaining 624 yards on the ground and totally six more touchdowns. That production has gotten him noticed on a national level, as he's been named to the 2012 Davey O'Brien Award watch list. The award is given out to the season's top quarterback.

Scheelhaase will definitely have to kick his play up to another level if he's going to make subsequent iterations of this list. He will also have to adjust to the offense of new offensive coordinator Billy Gonzalez, who comes over from LSU.

Scheelhaase was one of five Big 10 quarterbacks named to the watch list.

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