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The Illinois Fighting Illini enjoyed two memorable seasons with quarterback Luke Altmyer over the last two years, each culminating in a bowl win over an SEC opponent.

Altmyer is now on the Detroit Lions' practice squad after a solid preseason while the Fighting Illini have turned to former East Carolina Pirates star and Michigan State Spartans quarterback Katin Houser to lead their offense.

On Wednesday, college football reporter Scott Dochterman of The Athletic shared his thoughts on college football's opening weekend and included a surprising take on Illinois' new starting signal caller. 

Houser Better Than Altmyer, Reporter Says

Houser was called an upgrade over Altmyer by Dochterman in this week's column during which he laid out his reasons for choosing the Illini transfer over the team's former star.  

"It's difficult to argue with Luke Altmyer's success the past two seasons with 19 wins and 44 touchdown passes. But Houser's arm strength is on a different level, which he displayed in a perfectly placed 54-yard Hail Mary to end the first half in a 42-23 win against UAB," Dochterman said. 

"Houser, who transferred from East Carolina, completed 13 of 17 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns and was on target — even with the Illini missing two top receivers. 

"This week provides a major test for Houser and the offense with defending ACC champ Duke and defensive guru Manny Diaz coming to Champaign. 

"If Houser equals or exceeds his first-week performance, the Big Ten should be on notice." 

Houser threw for 3,300 yards last season in Greenville, North Carolina with the Pirates and now has an opportunity to reach for the stars in offensive coordinator Barry Lunney, Jr.'s creative offensive attack. 

He looked like he might be Illinois' best pro prospect at the position in years during Week 1.

Duke Coming Off of Strong Effort 

Duke roughed up a Tulane football program that went 11-3 last season and made life tough on quarterback Kadin Semonza, who was held to 11-for-21 passing for 140 yards. The Green Wave only had 54 rushing yards during the 17-3 Duke win, providing more evidence of the Diaz effect on the Blue Devils so far. 

Illinois has the skill position talent and the positive momentum to score 25-30 points or more on Duke, but Houser must continue to prove that he is the player we saw in Week 1 and at East Carolina and not the non-factor he was at Michigan State.

Houser has seemingly put his MSU years in the rear-view mirror and turned over a new leaf as a rifle-armed dual threat quarterback with growing NFL aspirations.

As Altmyer showed last season, great quarterback play can elevate a team higher than the experts think, an outcome Fighting Illini fans are hoping for with their new starting quarterback this season. 

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