Former Oklahoma State quarterback Wes Lunt took an unofficial visit to Illinois at the end of last week and is sincerely considering transferring there, sources familiar with his options said Monday.
Lunt is considering Illinois because he grew up an Illini fan and he believes the spread offense operated by offensive coordinator Bill Cubit is a good fit.
Lunt also has a relationship with coach Tim Beckman. Illinois is selling the idea that Lunt could potentially succeed a senior starter and that he could help turn around a program in front of his home-state fans.
Lunt has not yet visited Louisville, the other one of his original five transfer choices that was not blocked by Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy.
Oklahoma State blocked Lunt's request to be released to Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Southern Miss. In fact, Oklahoma State did notify Lunt he could not transfer to a school in the Big 12, SEC, Pac-12, Southern Miss or Central Michigan.
Among the reasons people familiar with that decision have cited are:
• That Lunt allegedly cited a desire to transfer "closer to home" and that those blocked schools are not "closer to home."
• The belief that at least some coaches at some interested schools improperly contacted Lunt.
• The possibility Oklahoma State could face some of the blocked conferences in a bowl game.
The Lunt family is considering an appeal to Oklahoma State. Although Notre Dame was at one point considered a possible transfer destination for Lunt, that is unlikely now, according to sources.
