Reilly O'Toole Will Start At QB For Illini In Bowl Game

(CBS) As expected, Illinois fifth-year senior quarterback Reilly O'Toole will start Friday's Heart of Dallas Bowl against Louisiana Tech, the Chicago Tribune reported Tuesday.

Redshirt sophomore Wes Lunt is expected to play at some point as well, Illini coach Tim Beckman told the Tribune. All three of Illinois' victories in Big Ten play were with O'Toole under center, and he led the Illini to a bowl bid with wins in the last two games of the year after Lunt didn't play well in coming off a knee injury.

"When his time came, he provided leadership, provided the winning," Beckman said, according to the Tribune. "I've been around football my whole life. I haven't been around a young man like this."

O'Toole has passed for 1,049 yards with nine touchdowns and seven interceptions this season. He has a 58.2 completion percentage.