CHAMPAIGN – Help is on the way.

With recruiting just starting to warm up as Illini football heads into its third year under coach Lovie Smith, there’s the feeling that better days are ahead. The Illini already began accumulating talent with high-profile commitments in the class of 2019 from two players who have several stars behind their names. This feels like a decade ago, when the Zooker lined up some big recruiting classes.

But before the Illini can get those commitments to sign and get them in uniform, there’s another spring football season to complete and a football season to show there’s truly improvement on the field. The Illini head into the fall with an open battle at quarterback, where Illinois chooses between a holdover from last season who played as a true freshmen, three incoming freshmen and a fifth-year transfer who has little playing experience.

“This ain’t a one-man show,’’ said offensive coordinator Rod Smith. “Just like it is now, we expect it to be competitive (in the fall). Everybody gets an opportunity to show what they’ve got. I told the young guys we’re not bringing them in here to redshirt. Expect to play. What they do here determines if they play or not. What they do moving forward (determines) who the best candidates are.’’

Capped by the spring game Saturday, it’s been essentially a one-man show this spring, when Cam Thomas soaks up most of the reps, but the quarterback battle opens up this summer when players report for summer school and heats up this fall when Smith picks a player to lead his spread offense.

After Chayce Crouch retired from the game and Jeff George Jr. transferred, it left Cam Thomas as the only Illini quarterback with playing experience. The Illini signed three freshmen, so the Illini are trying to find the quarterback who will lead the Illini in a critical season.

Lovie needs to make a move to show the paying customer there’s a reason to buy tickets and those committed recruits they picked the right school.

Thomas had the first chance to impress Rod Smith, the recent hire who came to town from Arizona as the guy who ran RichRod’s spread. The Illini added fifth-year transfer AJ Bush, a perennial back-up who had stints at Nebraska and Iowa Western C.C. He's athletic, can run, and has some raw tools and a strong arm, but has never been able to put it all together and refine his passing skills. Bush has a chance to start if Smith can coach him up.

MJ Rivers is a tall pocket passer who can tuck it and run. Of the incoming quarterbacks, he might be the best fit with his size and athletic ability to run the spread. But it’s hard for a true freshman to jump to the top of the depth chart at such a crucial position.

Coran Taylor is a true dual-threat prospect with speed and elusiveness as a runner. He guided one of the most prolific offenses in state history in his final two seasons at Peoria Central. Like Bush, he has a strong arm but needs refinement.

Matthew Robinson is the wild card, the late signee hand-picked by Smith. The 6-foot Californian was under-recruited because of his size, but those 3,000 yards passing as a senior caught Smith’s eye. He’s obviously a good it for Smith’s offense – that’s why he grabbed him up – and Robinson could be the sleeper in the mix. Can he be the next Jason Verduzco?

But those freshmen can’t help this spring, when Rod Smith is just trying to lay the groundwork for his offense this spring.

“We’re getting there,’’ he said. “We saw some flashes, then we took a step back. I’m super excited to keep building. We have to keep building. We’re not ready to play yet. We’re not close.’’

Besides watching Thomas’ play at quarterback, it will be interesting to see Rod Smith’s passing schemes. This will be an improved offense from the days under Garrick McGee. Rod Smith has plenty of experience running an offense, and his spread is expected to pick up the pace when he has the personnel to do it.

At this point, it’s still the basics, like can the receivers get open? Are they stretching the field with the vertical passing game? The return of Mike Dudek and Ricky Smalling from knee injuries should breathe some life into the offense, but will there be some signs of improvement from one of the worst offenses in major college football?

“With all of our positions, we see competition,’’ Lovie said. “We have four guys coming into the mix. All of these guys are highly touted. Training camp should be pretty interesting.’’

The spring game will be somewhat of a scrimmage than a game, even though Lovie said the only thing missing from a truly live game is essentially the elimination of live special teams and quarterbacks off limits to contact.

“We’re going to be playing football, live football,’’ Lovie said. “The quarterbacks won’t be live, but everything else will be. It’s a good chance for the fans to see the new offense, the look of the offense and defense and the look of the football team moving forward. We have a few guys out and we have a good freshman class coming in, but this gives a look of our football team.

“They will see us play live football from the start of the whistle to the end. A football fan would get their football fix.’’

Then the wait begins until the Illini unveil the open competition during preseason camp. Help is on the way.

John Supinie is a columnist for Orangeandbluenews.com. During the day, he’s an Audi Brand Specialist at Green Audi in Springfield. Call or text him at 217-377-1977 if you’re looking for an Audi, Volkswagen, Toyota or preowned car. Ask for the Illini deal.