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Illinois Football: Who Will Be Luke Altmyer’s Top Weapon in 2025?

WR1 in 2025?

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Illinois Football WR Pat Bryant Stares Down Nebraska
Sep 20, 2024. Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. Illinois Fighting Illini wide receiver Pat Bryant. (13) runs onto the field with the team during warmups before a game. Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Illinois at Memorial Stadium. Credit: Dylan Widger. Imagn Images.

With Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin now on their respective NFL rosters, Illinois Football quarterback Luke Altmyer must look to a new option to be his top weapon of choice in 2025.

Whether it’s proven production from portal pickups like Ball State’s Justin Bowick and West Virginia’s Hudson Clement, or in-house upside from guys like Hank Beatty, Malik Elzy, Collin Dixon, Brayden Trimble, Alex Capka-Jones, Mario Sanders, Ashton Hollins and more—Justin Stepp’s receiver room is deep, competitive, and ready for someone to take the reins in a pivotal year for the Illini offense.

The real question: Who’s gonna be at the top when all is said and done? Experience vs knowledge of Altmyer and OC Barry Lunney Jr’s system—and the battle’s wide open.

 

Illinois Football

Nov 2, 2024. Champaign. Illinois. USA. Illinois. Fighting Illini. Quarterback Luke Altmyer. (9). Illinois vs the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Memorial Stadium. Credit: Ron Johnson. Imagn Images.

 

Why Hudson Clement Will Lead Illinois Football As WR1 in 2025

Personally, I’m going with the portal pickup who’s got a serious chip on his shoulder and something to prove in Champaign.

West Virginia transfer Hudson Clement quickly transformed from an overlooked high school standout to one of Luke Altmyer’s most intriguing options for an Illinois offense with a lot of potential in 2025.

After a record-setting senior year at Martinsburg High School in 2022, where he tallied 87 receptions, 1,709 yards, and 23 touchdowns, including an astounding 8 scores in the state title game, Clement walked on at West Virginia with zero Division I offers. He made an immediate impact as a redshirt freshman in 2023 with 480 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns.

The breakout season furthermore helped Hudson earn a full-ride scholarship at West Virginia.

He continued his upward trajectory into 2024, leading all Mountaineers receivers with 741 yards and 5 touchdowns before entering the transfer portal, and committing to Bret Bielema and Illinois Football.

So, why do I think he will lead the Illinois Football WR Unit in 2025?

Simply – the task is nothing new for Clement, and it’s why he was brought here.

Now, with two years of eligibility remaining, he’s bringing proven production, vocal leadership, and big-play potential to a receiving corps in need following the departures of Bryant and Franklin to the NFL.

At 6’1” and 200 pounds, Clement offers a blend of size, speed, and athleticism that makes him a legitimate vertical threat. His ability to win contested catches and stretch the field mirrors the style of Bryant, and his underdog mentality fits perfectly with head coach Bret Bielema’s emphasis on toughness, smarts, and dependability.

Undoubtedly, the intangibles are there for Clements to be WR1 in 2025.

With a chip on his shoulder and a history of delivering under pressure, Clement is poised to make an immediate impact in Champaign as Luke Altmyer’s top option in 2025.

Honorable Mention – A Potential Breakout for OC Barry Lunney Jr’s Offense

While I believe Hudson Clement’s proven experience gives him the edge as the preseason favorite to be Luke Altmyer’s go-to target, the Illini also boast a deep group of young, highly anticipated developmental pieces within Justin Stepp’s unit.

One of the most intriguing names among the unit is Chicago native Malik Elzy. The 6’2” redshirt sophomore has shown flashes of potential but is still awaiting his true breakout moment in Champaign. Through his first two seasons, Elzy has totaled 9 receptions for 126 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Similarly to Clement,  Elzy’s blend of size, strength, and athleticism makes him a dangerous, versatile threat—capable of stretching the field and winning 50-50 balls in tight coverage. His physical tools allow him to thrive in both deep-ball situations and contested catch scenarios, giving Altmyer a valuable weapon with WR1 upside.

While Clement may enter the season as the likely No. 1 option, Elzy has every opportunity to emerge as a major contributor in 2025. Even if he doesn’t lead the team in production, expect him to be one of Altmyer’s go-to targets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDOWF6oMPuo

 

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Kirkland is an expert source for Illinois athletics news. He is the lead Football analyst at Armchair Illini and has been featured in top media publications like Bleacher Report, Yard Barker, Autograph, Newsbreak, CBS Sports and more.

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