The NCAA transfer portal officially opened on Dec. 9, and questions remained on junior quarterback Luke Altmyer’s future with the Illini. Conversations centered around the possibility for him to enter the portal or declare for the NFL draft. But after a 9-3 season, a bowl game appearance and 21 regular season touchdowns, Altmyer announced his intention to stay with Illinois.
There’s a lot for Illinois fans to be happy about with this football season. A winning record, College Football Playoff conversations, a solid recruiting class and established talent on the coaching staff and roster provide joy to many, but this success must continue.
Illinois made national headlines numerous times this season, and it can do the same next season if everything falls into place.
Always room for improvement
Altmyer had the year he needed to bring the team to a winning season. Yet, he showed many imperfections throughout the year, highlighting his weak spots.
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On multiple occasions, Altmyer struggled with ball security and let the football slip out of his hands in crucial situations. He had difficulty with spatial awareness and took hard sacks that led to fourth-down turnovers. He’s not expected to be perfect by any means. However, he is the offense leader, and if he doesn’t perform, the whole team won’t either.
Altmyer had about a 61% completion rate this season and threw for over 2,500 yards. He illustrated how strong his arm could be and finished the job through the air or on the ground. As the season progressed, he got more comfortable running the ball when he had space to do so.
The most fulfilling part of Altmyer’s second season with Illinois was his ability to learn from mistakes. He made errors here and there, but his intelligence on the field got better each game, and his confidence continued to grow.
His third season should be marked by continued confidence, improvement and better communication with his offensive unit. It’s clear that Altmyer is a talented quarterback. All that’s left is for new and existing pieces to complement each other with enhanced accuracy. With that, another nine-win or better season is attainable.
Filling in missing pieces
It won’t be easy to say goodbye to senior wide receivers Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin. They were Altmyer’s go-to guys and were reliable when Illinois needed them the most. The Illini need other strong receivers to step up and fill in the holes Bryant and Franklin leave.
Bryant and Franklin showed flashes throughout the year. However, sophomore wide receiver Malik Elzy, junior wide receiver Alexander Capka-Jones and redshirt freshman wide receiver Collin Dixon will step into larger roles next season. With their height, speed and overall athleticism, they can count on Altmyer to target them regularly down the stretch.
The linemen on both sides of the ball could use some work. Senior defensive linemen TeRah Edwards and Dennis Briggs Jr. are also in their final years with Illinois, so recruits and younger linemen are expected to step up and fill in their shoes.
Senior offensive lineman J.C. Davis also departs from the Illini after this year. Having an established offensive line will be vital to the success of the offense next season. The linemen will need to bolster their strength and blocking skills to allow runners to get through and prevent defenders from attacking Altmyer. Preventing sacks and maximizing yardage are the goals. If those can happen swiftly, the rest should be smooth sailing.
What happens now?
After the Illini compete in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, they only have a short break before getting back to work for 2025. Altmyer must stay in shape and work extra closely with his younger receivers and running backs to ensure the utmost trust and chemistry with them.
Offensive and defensive linemen should continue to build muscle and have clear goals in mind. Head coach Bret Bielema constantly stresses the importance of complementary football, and both squads must realize how vital each move they make is.
Success is not a one-way street in football. With direct communication and maintaining the brotherhood in the program, the triumphs of the Illini should continue for a long time.
@tess_eken
