NORMAL -- Illinois State football coach Brock Spack liked what he saw from freshman quarterback Beckham Pellant last fall.
Spack and offensive coordinator Tony Petersen will see a lot more of Pellant as the Redbirds opened spring practice removed from Tuesday's stormy elements at ISU's Indoor Practice Facility.
Tommy Rittenhouse, ISU's returning starter at quarterback, is rehabilitating from sports hernia surgery and will see no contact all spring.
And, 2024 second string quarterback Jake Rubley along with walk-on Jimmy Makuh did not return to the team.
That leaves Pellant as the lone available quarterback for spring drills.
"We'll be all right. It's not ideal. You would like to have at least two," Spack said. "You can turn a negative into a positive for Beckham. He will get a lot of reps and be in a much better spot come next fall."
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Pellant is the frontrunner to take over the No. 2 spot for the upcoming season.
"It's huge. Not many guys, let alone a young freshman, get the ability to have spring ball all to themselves," said Pellant. "It's being able to get some of the chemistry down and build camaraderie from the quarterback position. It's something I didn't have a whole lot of it the fall."
With Rittenhouse and Rubley working with ISU's first and second string offense, Pellant spent most of his time running the scout team offense to help the Redbird defense prepare for the next opponent.
Pellant estimates he will receive about 1,000 live repetitions this spring.
"The big thing knowing I was going to take a lot of reps was getting the playbook down," said the 6-foot, 195-pounder from Chandler, Arizona. "Getting my timing down with our ones and twos and make sure I was ready to go for spring ball."
Spack was impressed with Pellant last fall. Pellant took a redshirt season but did see limited action, completing both of his passes.
"He's going to be a really good player. I really like him a lot," said Spack. "He can wing it. He gets rid of the ball fast. In our offense, that's really important. In a RPO (run pass option) world, you have to make a decision and get rid of the ball quick. That's what he does well."
The ISU coach said he and Petersen will be "very careful" not to overwork Pellant.
Petersen was a college quarterback and is capable of "throwing routes on air. If we had to, (receiver) Brett Kasper could throw a little bit for us," said Spack.
Pellant is eager for the opportunity.
"I never had a doubt I could succeed at this level," he said. "Now I can showcases my talents day in and day out and prove I can hang up here and succeed."
Spack believes Rittenhouse could return to throwing before spring practice ends in mid April.
"He won't do any 11 on 11 stuff. We'll see how that goes," said Spack. "For sure by the end of May and going into summer conditioning he'll be full go."
Rubley decided not to use his final year of eligibility.
"Jake is graduating. He wants to move on and get out in the business world," Spack said.
ISU expects to have four healthy quarterbacks for the opening of fall camp in Rittenhouse, Pellant and incoming freshmen Chase Kwiatkowski and Cooper Kmet.
Backs sidelined
ISU's top rushers from the past two seasons are on hand but not participating in spring drills.
Wenkers Wright, who rushed for 1,123 yards as the Redbirds posted a 10-4 record last fall, is out while recovering from having a labrum in his shoulder surgically repaired.
Mason King ran for 980 yards in 2023 but suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 2024 season opener.
"The ACL (knee ligament) is doing very well. It's some of the nerve damage. It's taking some time to come back," said Spack. "He's getting better, but it's going to take some time yet. He absolutely wants to play."
Tailbacks seeing plenty of carries this spring will be Matt Lawson, Seth Glatz and Cincinnati transfer Victor Dawson.
Upon his arrival on campus, Dawson opened eyes in the weight room with a squat of 610 pounds while coming back from a knee injury.
Back in action
Returning to the field after season-ending injuries last season are linebacker Mason Kaplan, wide receiver Dylan Lord and defensive lineman Garret Steffen.
Madison leaves staff
ISU cornerbacks coach Tevin Madison has left Spack's staff to take a position at Alabama.
"We have a guy in mind (to replace Madison)," Spack said. "We're just working out all the details right now."
Wisconsin in 2029
ISU has scheduled a game at Wisconsin for Sept. 8, 2029. The Redbirds last played at the Badgers' Camp Randall Stadium in 2022.
The Redbirds head to Oklahoma to open the 2025 season for its "guarantee game." Other future FBS opponents are Northern Illinois in 2026, Missouri in 2027 and Illinois in 2028.
Spring game
ISU's Spring Showcase, the public scrimmage that marks the end of spring drills, April 12 at 1 p.m. at Hancock Stadium.
Follow Randy Reinhardt on Twitter: @Pg_Reinhardt
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