Why Luke Altmyer chose an Illini legacy over an SEC payday

Luke Altmyer announced his return to the Illinois football program in quite a fun way. After a stellar junior season, however, the star QB was courted by some of the top names in College football. Understandably so, the pocketbooks in the SEC and the amount of exposure are an insurmountable advantage for these schools over up-and-coming programs like the Illini. However, Altmyer chose an Illini legacy over the glitz and glamor that would come with switching over to the SEC. He had an interesting interview with On3’s Pete Nakos regarding the interest he fielded from SEC programs.

Luke shared with Nakos, “Being from Mississippi and in SEC country, that’s very, very attractive to be able to play in that conference, play in front of people that I know, and in stadiums that I’ve been in before and grew up watching and loving. It was certainly an attraction and a real thing.

He added, “I know what is being created here, and the trust, unity, and the connection that I have amongst my teammates, this community, and my coaches.”

Looking back

Luke Altmyer came into the Illinois football program at an interesting time. After the 2022-2023 season, one of the best years that the program had in a while, many were curious how this could be replicated. Syracuse transfer Tommy DeVito injected life into what was a burdened Illini program, however, his time in Champaign only lasted a year before he went on to the NFL. In came Luke Altymer, a touted prospect, but one who had not seen the field much at Ole Miss. Altmyer served as a solid replacement for DeVito; however, the team ultimately underwhelmed, going 5-7.

That team, despite being underwhelming, lost an incredible amount of talent, including Jer’Zhan Newton, Keith Randolph, and Isaiah Williams. Heading into the 2024 season, many questioned whether Illinois could even make a Bowl game. Altmyer, along with Pat Bryant, Zakhari Franklin, and more, helped the Illini have their best season in 20 years.

This year, Altmyer will return along with all the pieces of a solid offensive line. If he can help lead the Illini to a successful season, once again, he will establish Altmyer’s legacy as one of the best Illini QBs of all time.

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