Illinois Football: Top 3 Illini performers in the loss to Kansas

3. Luke Altmyer

• Stats: 67.8% completion, 202 yards passing, 70 yards rushing, 3 total TDs, 2 INTs

If you didn’t watch the game, you would probably look at the box score and think that Luke Altmyer had a bad game passing the football.

I mean, just look at his stats. He was 19-of-28, 67.8%, for 202 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Throwing two picks is never a good thing, and this looks like it is on the shoulders of Altmyer. That isn’t the case at all, though.

Altmyer actually had a pretty decent game. Completing 67.8% of passes is impressive, albeit most were shorter throws. The two interceptions that Altmyer threw weren’t really his fault. Pat Bryant thought he was in the circus and started to juggle the ball long enough for a defender to intercept it. Isaiah Williams did much of the same for another interception.

Just think, if those two wide receivers catch those passes, Altmyer has zero interceptions and completes 75% of his passes.

The wheels that Altmyer has is impressive as well. There are times when he relies on running too much and pulls the ball down too soon, but I can’t complain about Altmyer’s ability to run. He had a big 72-yard touchdown run for the Illini, which was one of the few signs we could actually score in the first half.

I still think Illinois has a good quarterback. Illinois needs to run the ball more consistently, so defenses load the box more often, though. This would give Altmyer more opportunities for passes down the field. It is a long season, and I think Altmyer will get more comfortable. I can’t wait to see what he looks like in midseason.