Sign up for our daily Illini football newsletter here
Greetings from "Can't Wait For Saturday," your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He'll give you his views each day on the game he loves
***
It has been 24 years since an Illinois quarterback last heard his name called in the NFL draft. It seems likely Luke Altmyer is about to end the drought.
An ESPN.com ranking of the Top 12 quarterback prospects for the 2026 draft places the three-year starter at Illinois at No. 8. And projects him as a third day pick. Thanks to News-Gazette friend Nick Quartaro, Coach Q, for pointing out the piece.
If it happens -- and the guess here is it will -- Altmyer will become the first Illinois quarterback draftee since the Atlanta Falcons took Kurt Kittner in 2002.
The rankings done by Jordan Reid open with obvious No. 1 Fernando Mendoza of Indiana.
He is followed by Alabama's Ty Simpson, LSU's Garrett Nussmeier, Miami's Carson Beck. Penn State's Drew Allar, Cole Payton of North Dakota State, Arkansas' Taylen Green and Altmyer.
Quarterbacks listed behind Altmyer include Clemson's Cade Klubnik, Baylor's Sawyer Robertson, UConn's Joe Fagnano and Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia.
Altmyer might not be as a recognizable as Klubnik and Pavia for the casual college football fans, but the folks doing the drafting know who he is.
Each player's strengths and weaknesses are mentioned in the article.
In the category where he excels, it reads: "Altmyer is a true point guard who gets the ball out in a hurry, spreads it around and is a swift processor of opposing defense.
"He does a great job identifying breakdowns or holes in defenses."
Under, where he needs work, the author writes "Altmyer's confidence can be a gift or a curse, as he'll bypass safer options in hopes of hunting for flashy plays."