Charest soaking it all in

Ask Asmussen about Charest's future here

CHAMPAIGN – It wouldn't be much of a trick to figure out who he is. Even without the uniform.

Jacob Charest, a month removed from quiet practices and a low profile on campus, suddenly finds himself the center of attention. That's what happens when you go from third-string to first-string quarterback at a Big Ten school.

"It's actually sometimes kind of awkward because people will just look at me," Charest said. "I'm like, 'Are you going to say hey? I'll say hey. I'm a friendly guy.' "

While no final decision has been made, the redshirt freshman from North Carolina is expected to make his first college start Saturday against Northwestern. Starter Juice Williams, the school's career total offense leader, is recovering from a sprained ankle suffered against Minnesota.

The workload for Charest has changed in recent weeks. He's looking at more film, stopping in every day. Memorial Stadium has become his home away from home.

"I don't really have much of a personal life any more," Charest said. "I'm either here, sleeping or in class."

What would he have done with the extra time in the past.

"Probably just hang out, maybe with my girlfriend," Charest said. "Or video games or something useless."

Against Minnesota, Charest came on in relief and led the Illini on three touchdown drives. He threw his first scoring pass, which was also the first touchdown catch of the season for Arrelious Benn.

"The thing I was satisfied with myself the most was I was able to get the ball into the hands of the playmakers that we have," Charest said.

Given an option between run or pass, Charest's choice is easy.

"Probably the rest of the guys, if they have an opportunity to run, they're probably going to run," Charest said. "It's kind of the opposite with me. If there's any way possible I can throw the ball, I'm going to try to throw it."

Charest's performance against Minnesota impressed the Illinois coaches.

"I think he's developing a presence about him in the pocket," Illinois receivers coach Jim Pry said. "He's got some confidence about him. The way the ball comes out of his hand is hard and fast. That's usually a sign of some pretty good confidence."

It will be the third game of his college career for Charest and the first with his parents in attendance. Scott and Cindy Charest haven't been ignoring their oldest son. It's just that they've been preoccupied with his younger brother, Nate, a standout at Butler High School, North Carolina's top-rated team.

The Charests had a preplanned trip to South Carolina when Jacob made his college debut at Purdue. The next week, they went to Nate's high school game on Friday, then drove all night to get to Champaign for the Illinois-Michigan game. But Williams got on a hot streak in the game and Charest never left the bench.

Last Saturday, the family stayed in North Carolina for Nate's final regular season game. Today, after Butler gets done in the first round of the playoffs against West Charlotte, Scott and Cindy will pile into the car for the 720-mile trip.

If it goes the way Scott Charest hopes, they will get to town by 8 a.m., in time for a quick shower. They need to be at the stadium by 9:30 for Dad's Day activities. Sleep will come later in the afternoon. Then, on Sunday, the Charests will trek back to the Charlotte area.

Nate Charest won't travel with his parents this weekend. Being heavily recruited by Division I-AA schools, he is visiting Coastal Carolina.

What's the family going to do in 2010, when both kids are playing college football?

"Next year, wherever Nate's playing, we'll compare the home games with Jacob's home games," Scott Charest said. "And we can leave on Fridays." Before 10 p.m., too.

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