CHAMPAIGN  The night before games, Kirk Johnson is flawless.

   Of all the quarterbacks on the University of Illinois football team, Johnson handles coach Ron Turner''s pregame pop quiz with the most ease.

   "He doesn''t flinch," UI receiver Lenny Willis said. "He knows everything all the time."

   Friday night at the Radisson Hotel, Johnson answered every question tossed his way.

   "I like to spit that answer out as soon as possible to show everybody that I know it," he said.

   Prepared as usual.

   He has the mental part down pat  that is why Turner chose to start Johnson instead of Tim Lavery. The physical part needs development, he admits.

   "I feel like I have the knowledge," Johnson said after Saturday''s 48-3 loss to Purdue. "Now I need to transfer it over to the game."

   Johnson''s Illinois debut was much like Mark Hoekstra''s and Lavery''s: plenty of effort but little production. The sophomore from Brentwood, Tenn., was intercepted four times and sacked seven times in the UI''s 13th consecutive loss.

   Hoekstra was 20 of 42 for 165 yards and two interceptions in his first start against Southern Mississippi. Lavery was 8 of 31 for 75 yards against Iowa. Johnson finished 14 of 27 for 123 yards.

   So who gets the call against Indiana?

   "I don''t know," Turner said. "We''ve tried all three of them, and the results have been about the same."

   Turner told Johnson he''d start Thursday, citing the quarterback''s performance in recent practices. The coach will name his starter for the Indiana game after reviewing film of Saturday''s loss.

   "(Johnson) didn''t play like he practiced," Turner said. "Especially early in the game."

   Johnson''s first pass attempt sailed over the head of tight end Josh Whitman. He also overthrew Steve Harvard to end the UI''s second series, Adrian Beasley returning the interception to the Illinois 26, setting up Purdue''s first touchdown.

   In the second quarter, Johnson fumbled while scrambling, Purdue''s Mike Rose scooping up the ball and rumbling 26 yards for a touchdown and a 24-0 lead.

   "Overall I didn''t play the way I wanted to," Johnson said. "The way I played in the first half and first quarter was unacceptable. I missed some things I shouldn''t miss. I made some reads that weren''t correct and ended up in some bad situations."

   Johnson and Lavery shared snaps in practice last week. After practice, Johnson said he watched two hours of film on Purdue each night.

   He wasn''t nervous when he took the field  "a real sense of peace," he said  but needed time to find his groove, not completing a pass until the second quarter.

   Combined, Illinois quarterbacks have thrown 13 interceptions and three touchdowns, completing 44 percent of their passes.

   "We run the same plays no matter who''s in there," UI running back Robert Holcombe said. "The receivers, they run the same routes. The linemen, they block the same. We should be able to play anybody into the system."

   Johnson, who''s overcome a series of injuries since reporting to the UI in 1995, said he''d accept Turner''s upcoming decision on who starts at Indiana, no matter the choice.

   "We really just want somebody to take charge," Willis said. "With the mental aspect, Kirk can do it. He just needs to show he can do it on the field."