| Editor's note: Throughout the season, Pro Football Weekly will run a
continuing series of articles spotlighting top prospects for the 2002 draft. 
With Illinois trailing 6-3 early in the fourth quarter of its game against Northern
Illinois Sept. 8, coach Ron Turner knew he had to find some offense. And Turner knew
exactly where to look.
Turner leaned on senior QB Kurt Kittner. Though Kittner struggled to a 17-of-34 passing
day facing unheralded NIU, the team’s captain threw two fourth-quarter touchdown
passes to lead the Illini to their second win of the season.
"I just don’t think Kurt ever found his rhythm," Turner said. "But
he battled back and finally got us in there."
NFL scouts have ranked Kittner in the upper echelon of quarterback prospects because of
his accuracy and quick release.
"Kurt is a very accurate passer," said Turner, Illinois’ offensive
coordinator and a former NFL coordinator. "The other thing is his foot quickness. Not
many people talk about his feet, but he has great feet in the pocket. That gives him an
incredible pocket presence."
Turner has coached QBs Rodney Peete, Steve Stenstrom, Steve Walsh and Jeff Garcia, just
to name a few. He said Kittner doesn’t remind him of any one of those quarterbacks
individually, but a combination of two or three of his past students.
"I think when you are looking for Kurt’s greatest strength you look at his
ability to see the field," Turner said. "It’s an incredible thing the way
he sees things develop. I could see that as far back as his high school film. He is
probably better at seeing the field than anyone I’ve been around."
Personnel analyst Joel Buchsbaum said Kittner has "good, but not great touch;
generally throws a nice, tight pass; and has a better-than-adequate and perhaps even good
NFL arm."
A drop-back, pocket passer, Kittner is mobile, can escape the rush and doesn’t
turn the ball over. Turner runs a pro-style offense similar to the one he implemented in
the NFL. Kittner’s familiarity with such formations and terminology should advance
his acclimation to the next level.
"The way that helps Kurt is with the reads, the hot receivers, look-offs,"
Turner said. "And then the things we do protection-wise. But if you take it that way,
it still depends a lot on what (NFL) team he ends up with."
Two games into the 2000-01 season, Kittner is 35-of-68 (51.5%) for 538 yards with four
touchdowns and no interceptions.
If you want to see Kittner tested before he hits the NFL, take a look at how he
performs in the Big House, Sept. 22 at Michigan.
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