The transfer portal has been rocking since it opened up on January 2, and the Illinois football team has been actively trying to scoop up as many top names as possible.
Bret BIelema and the Illini have been doing everything they can to make up for the team's departures due to graduation and the transfer portal. They have a lot of big names on both sides of the ball to replace, including the likes of EDGE Gabe Jacas, offensive tackle J.C. Davis, and quarterback Luke Altmyer.
It is going to be a project for the Illini to piece their roster back together, but according to ESPN's Pete Thamel, it looks like Bielema has found his replacement for Altmyer in East Carolina transfer Katin Houser.
NEWS: Former East Carolina quarterback Katin Houser is committing to Illinois, sources tell ESPN. Houser threw for 3,300 yards this year, 19 touchdowns and completed 65.9% of his passes. He’s played four total seasons at Mich State and ECU, throwing for 6,438 yards and 43 TDs. pic.twitter.com/EymooKV87E
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 5, 2026
Houser, a fifth-year quarterback from East Carolina University, officially entered the transfer portal on December 15, after two seasons with the Pirates. In his final season with head coach Blake Harrell's bunch, Houser finished with a career high 3,300 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and six interceptions on a 65.9% completion percentage.
Houser reportedly visited Champaign on Sunday. Illinois now becomes Houser's third school in the last five years, joining the aforementioned East Carolina, as well as the Michigan State Spartans.
Katin Houser will be a huge transfer portal addition for an Illinois football offense that's losing its star quarterback
The fact that Illinois has to figure out a way to replace Altmyer doesn't feel right. For years, Altmyer has given Illinois fans some of the greatest memories that they've ever had. He took over the history books in a multitude of ways and helped lead Illinois to the most wins over any two-year stretch in program history.
But now we need to look to the future, and that future involves the 6-foot-4, 225-pound gunslinger out of Anaheim, California. This is huge news for the Illinois program, as Houser was one of the top quarterback targets in the transfer portal. The big pocket passer will give the Illini a rocket of an arm in the backfield, who can spread the ball around to multiple levels on the field.
Sure, the Illini will be losing out on the speed capabilities that Altmyer brought to the team. Houser isn't prone to running the ball as much as his predecessor, attempting roughly half of the rushing attempts that Altmyer did in his career.
But overall, Houser's ability to take the top off the defense has me very happy about this pickup. The big man has his negatives, just like everyone, but in a program that just finished developing one of the best to ever do it in Altmyer, I'm confident that they will do right by the new guy.