Illinois QB Luke Altmyer named to Davey O’Brien Award watch list
CHAMPAIGN — Luke Atlmyer added more preseason accolades. The Illinois quarterback has been named to the preseason watch list for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, the Davey O’Brien Foundation announced Thursday.
Altmyer is one of 36 quarterbacks nationally to earn a spot on the prestigious list, which highlights the top returning signal-callers in college football. The selections are based on past performance and expectations for the upcoming season.
This marks the first time an Illini quarterback has been named to the Davey O’Brien watch list since Nathan Scheelhaase in 2012. The award, regarded as the nation’s oldest and most distinguished quarterback honor, is presented annually to the best quarterback in college football, recognizing athletic excellence along with leadership, academics, sportsmanship, and character.
Altmyer is entering his third season as Illinois’ starter after a breakout 2024 campaign in which he led the Illini to a 10-3 record—tying the program’s single-season wins mark. He started all 13 games, threw for 22 touchdowns against just six interceptions, and led the nation with five game-winning drives in the final minute or overtime.
Already a 2025 preseason honoree for the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year, Altmyer has also earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from Phil Steele and third-team honors from Athlon. He was named an All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2024 and is a nominee for the Wooden Citizen Cup, which recognizes excellence on and off the field.
Altmyer originally signed with Ole Miss out of Starkville (Miss.) High School, where he was rated a four-star prospect by Rivals in the 2021 recruiting class. After two seasons with the Rebels, he transferred to Illinois ahead of the 2023 season and quickly emerged as a leader of the Illini offense.
The Davey O’Brien Award will announce semifinalists in November and the winner at the ESPN College Football Awards in December.
