Will we see Luke in an NFL uniform?
On Dec. 22, 2022, Bret Bielema received a Christmas present from Starkville, Mississippi: Ole Miss Quarterback Luke Altmyer transferring to the Illinois Fighting Illini. With three years of eligibility remaining, it would give Bielema and the Illini some much-needed time and the option of stability under center.
The first year did not go entirely as planned. Altmyer got his feet wet, but his numbers were not that good. He played only nine games due to injury, but he had some good games that gave Illini fans an idea of what to expect, completing 175 passes in 270 attempts (64.8%). He threw for 1,883 yards (209.2 YPG) with 13 TD and 10 INTs (his QB rating was 131.9). He also rushed for 282 yards on 94 carries with three TDs.
In 2024, his improvement was nothing short of remarkable. Whereas the year prior, he looked rattled at times and unsure of where or when to throw the ball. In ‘24, he seemed more poised, more confident, and better able to read the field. He passed for 2,717 yards, 211 completions in 347 passes with 22 TDs and only six interceptions (a 144.0 QB rating). His rushing yards were down 217 yards on 99 carries with 4 TDs, but that was due to inconsistent line play, allowing 32 sacks.
This season, he has continued to improve. With a bowl game yet to play, he has already surpassed his yards total from last season, 2,811 yards on 226 of 332 passing. He has attained his highest completion percentage of 68.1% and his highest passer rating of 157.1. He has 21 TDs with only five interceptions.
The Altmyer legacy
Altmyer will go down as one of the best quarterbacks in Illinois history. Many people have said he is the best QB at Illinois since Kurt Kittner, with some comparing his leadership to Jeff George. Here are some of the reasons why.
- Most TDs in a career tied for 2nd with Juice Williams at 56 (leader is Kurt Kittener with 64).
- Most passing yards he is 5th with 7,411(626 yards behind 4th place Juice Williams).
- Completion percentage among starters is 1st at 64.5%.
- TD% % with over 500 attempts at 5.9.
- Yards per play with over 1,000 yards 2nd 7.4 (John Paddock leads with 8.9).
- Yards per game 3rd at 218 (Tony Eason is 1st with 300.4 and Dave Wilson is 2nd with 286.7)
- Passer rating as a starter (minimum 10 starts) at 145.
How he is looked at nationally:
- ESPN has him rated as the 12th best in the NCAA this season
- Profootballnetwork.com has him listed as #8 in QB power rankings going into the upcoming bowl game.
- He is in the top 25 nationally for completion percentage (68.1%) and passing touchdowns (21).
Altmyer’s pro-outlook
Most draft analysts have Altmyer as a fifth to seventh-round draft pick. They cite him as being a stable NFL backup QB in a West Coast or RPO offensive scheme.
Among the attributes they like about him are his performance in clutch situations, his release and touch, his ability to throw high-velocity, accurate passes, his read progression in passing situations, his ability to navigate the pocket, his toughness, his preparedness, and his mental approach to the game.
Some of the cons to his game are his frame, as they cite at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, whether he has the durability to withstand an NFL pass rush competition, a hitch in his throwing motion under pressure, the ability to throw in tight coverage, and an athletic ceiling not being a modern dual threat QB.
He is being compared to NFL backups Cooper Rush and Gardner Minshew in terms of his NFL trajectory. In four mock drafts I have seen so far, he could be taken in the fifth round by Tampa Bay, the sixth round by Minnesota, or the seventh round by either the Bears or Houston.
My opinion (for what it’s worth)
With one game to go and an invite to the Senior Bowl, it is a fair bet to say that in the fall of 2026, Luke Altmyer will be on an NFL roster somewhere, probably as a trusted backup. I can see the four teams mentioned in the mock draft models, but I would not rule out teams like Pittsburgh, San Francisco, New England, or Green Bay. Certainly, back-to-back bowl wins would improve his stock, as will a good showing in the Senior Bowl. All in all, the future looks very good for Luke Altmyer.
Category: General Sports
