Illinois State football coach Brock Spack expects both developments to benefit his offense in the coming season.
Entering his second season as starting quarterback, Kolbe has added about 20 pounds and weighs 220.
“Coach (Jim) Lathrop and the whole strength staff do a great job. They really kicked our butts this offseason. It really paid off for a lot of people,” Kolbe said. “I feel really good and ready to go. I feel more mobile than I’ve ever been.”
Kolbe passed for 2,703 yards and 22 touchdowns in a 2016 season that Spack believes would have been even better had Kolbe not been slowed by a shoulder injury for a few games.