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Illinois

Joel Klatt explains ranking of Luke Altmyer as top ten quarterback in college football

Barkley-Truaxby: Barkley Truax05/30/25BarkleyTruax
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Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) runs for a touchdown against the Kansas Jayhawks during the second half at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Joel Klatt recently released his top 10 quarterbacks list ahead of the 2025 season. Heading into the summer, Klatt believes he has a pulse on where to find elite quarterback play this fall.

Coming in at No. 9 is Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer. Klatt admitted that he was considering slotting Altmyer at No. 10, but instead landed on Miami QB Carson Beck for that spot. He ultimately settled on the Illinois signal caller one spot ahead of the Georgia transfer.

“I landed on Luke Altmyer from Illinois, namely because of experience,” Klatt explained. “I also believe that their teams could have solid years. But this experience factored in particular for Altmyer is real. This is going to be his third season playing. That’s a lot of football. … He’s not the flashiest guy on the list, and it’s not an offense that’s going to put up a huge amount of numbers throwing the football, but it’s a team that won over 10 games last year. I think that they’ve got a schedule that could put them in the College Football Playoff.”

This praise follows a career-best 2024 campaign where he threw for 2,717 yards on 60.8-percent passing and 22 touchdowns to six interceptions while adding 217 rushing yards and four scores on the ground. His rushing performance continues a trend that began in his first season with Illinois, and has now proven himself as a threat in the rushing game. He’s totaled nearly 500 yards on the ground over the last two seasons in Champaign.

“He’s not hyper elusive, I wouldn’t say. But he can run when he needs to,” Klatt said.

Overall, 2024 was Altmyer’s second season with the Fighting Illini — his fourth season overall at the collegiate level after beginning his career at Ole Miss. Set to return to Illinois for the 2025 college football season. Although, Altmyer was among several quarterbacks that were mentioned as possible transfer fits for Tennessee following Nico Iamaleava‘s departure from the program. Altmyer reaffirmed his commitment to Illinois fans on social media, and this nod later went to Joey Aguilar from UCLA.

Altmyer’s play under center helped lead the Illini to its first 10-win season since 2001, so it’s no surprise his services are certainly coveted in the eyes of potential transfer portal suitors. Instead, he’ll use his final season of eligibility, as Klatt alluded, to send his program to the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history.