4. Hank Beatty is on full display
I was really worried about who was going to replace Pat Bryant as the No. 1 wide receiver option on the Illinois football team.
When you lose a third-round NFL Draft pick, it is never easy to replace that talent. Illinois snagged a couple of nice pieces from the transfer portal, but they weren’t massive gets for the program.
Illinois has looked inward for the top wide receiver, and I think Bret Bielema found a gem. On Saturday, Illini pass catcher Hank Beatty continued his dominance out wide.
Beatty had a solid 2024 with 20 catches for 294 yards and one touchdown. That was as Illinois’ No. 3 option at wide receiver. Now that he is the No. 1 option, Beatty has flourished.
Entering the Purdue game, he had career highs of 27 catches for 383 yards and one touchdown. He then unleashed all his fury on the Boilermakers. Beatty finished the Purdue game with five receptions for 186 yards and a touchdown.
It was impressive how easily Beatty found the soft pockets in the Purdue zone. He was able to get to those spots, and Luke Altmyer would find him. There were a couple of plays when Beatty zipped down the sidelines and had some great passes thrown to him, too.
Beatty is well on his way to having one of the best seasons by an Illinois wide receiver in decades. Purdue was his latest victim in the incredible play of Beatty.