10 transfer QBs who can replace Illinois’ Luke Altmyer
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Happy Portal Szn to those who celebrate.
My favorite part of the season is the offseason. And the hot stove is already lit.
On Nov. 4, 2023, the Illini played the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Starting QB Luke Altmyer got off to a blazing hot start. He completed 18 of his first 22 passes.
As the game progressed, the Illini offense committed multiple turnovers, and Altmyer looked completely out of sorts against PJ Fleck’s squad.
In the fourth quarter, Altmyer and the Illini fell behind. A near game-changing interception by Altmyer looked like the nail in the coffin.
Then, John Paddock happened. He entered the game when Altmyer took an ugly shot that left him concussed. Paddock led the Illini on a last-second drive, and the Johnny Magic era was afoot.
That era only lasted for the remainder of the season.
Altmyer’s status was a tightrope. The staff rode the hot hand, and the previously inconsistent Starkville native had no guarantee in place.
Would the southern gentleman return to his southern roots via the transfer portal?
Would Bret Bielema and Barry Lunney Jr. move on to greener pastures?
Well, you already know how that story ends: the best two-year run for Illinois football in generations.
Luke Altmyer brought stability to Illinois’ success. The way Brandon Peters closed the revolving door with three years as a starter, Altmyer ran after Tommy Devito walked.
Luke is Legend.
Like Ayo.
Like Isaiah.
Like TSJ.
The Larry Gies donation may not have happened without Luke under center in Champaign for three seasons.
So, in the words of Bill Goldberg, “who’s next?
As you can imagine, I’ve got some thoughts.
What should Illinois seek in an Altmyer replacement?
Let’s start by saying one doesn’t simply replace Luke Altmyer. You find a guy who gives you the best chance at continuing your upward trajectory. You also want someone who is a stopgap who can hold down the fort while your young quarterbacks develop.
It’s not complex to understand what this coaching staff wants in a quarterback.
- Solid judgement on and off the field
- Ball security (An area Altmyer improved)
- Mobility
- Either high-level experience (Devito) or top-end potential (Altmyer)
- Tough, smart, dependable mindset
So who could fit that bill?
Austin Simmons – University of Mississippi
To be clear, Simmons is not yet in the portal. With the uncertainty surrounding Mississippi and LSU’s quarterback situations, Simmons could be in signal-caller purgatory. He has the physical tools of a Heisman candidate. He has the athleticism of a first-round draft pick. He demonstrated his upside in coming into a 2024 game cold (starter Jaxon Dart missed a possession due to an injury). Simmons led the Rebels down the field for a touchdown against Georgia.
If I had my choice, Simmons would be the guy in Champaign.
He lost his potential starting gig to Trinidad Chambliss, much like Luke Altmyer did to Jaxon Dart.
He showed massive promise in short spurts, but Lane Kiffin went with someone else.
I’m not advocating based on the narrative. I am intrigued by the fact that Simmons could be a true one-and-done quarterback who goes to the NFL, building a bridge to either Carson Boyd, Michael Clayton, or Kamden Lopati.
Katin Houser – East Carolina University
Katin Houser is Exhibit B (after Sam Leavitt) as to why Jonathan Smith got kicked out of East Lansing faster than you can say 1-900-Tucker.
Houser transferred to East Carolina because Smith, in his infinite wisdom, brought turnover machine and current portal embezzler Aidan Chiles with him from Corvallis.
Houser put up solid numbers, notching 3,300 yards and 19 touchdowns for the Pirates this past season. The SoCal native will definitely be a sought-after commodity, but he seems firmly at the top end of Illinois’ range.
Jaden Craig – Harvard University
I wrote extensively about Craig here. In summary, he has an Economics degree from Harvard, so admissions will likely not stop him from transferring.
He was a multi-year starter in the Ivy League and brings a well-rounded dual-threat skill set to Barry Lunney’s scheme. He’s another excellent fit who will be sought after.
Alonza Barnett – James Madison University
Since Curt Cignetti became Nick Saban, everyone’s trying to recreate the special sauce.
(Spoiler alert: he’s just a really good football coach. And he’s going to be a thorn in the Illini’s side.)
Barnett is a true dual threat, having rushed for 589 yards last season. He also threw for over 5,300 yards and 49 touchdowns in the past two seasons.
His accuracy did dip below 60% this past season. But with his tantalizing ability as a runner, perhaps Barry Lunney Jr. and Art Sitkowski can unlock the next level of his potential.
Colton Joseph – Old Dominion University
Joseph has been a dominant FCS quarterback. With two years of eligibility, he will be one of the most highly pursued quarterbacks in this portal cycle.
The Orange County native ran over 1,000 yards and threw for 2,624 in his sophomore season. He averaged 15+ yards per completion en route to winning the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year award.
Obviously, schools like UCLA and USC will be mentioned in his recruitment. And the competition will be intense. Wisconsin is already hosting Joseph for a visit. So if Illinois intends to pursue him, they had better be ready to be aggressive.
Jaylen Raynor – Arkansas State University
Jaylen Raynor’s credentials come screaming off the page. He was a three-year starter for a traditional FCS powerhouse. He has put up nearly 10,000 all-purpose yards and 67 touchdowns. As a true dual threat, he’s got the natural skill set to handle Lunney’s temppro offense.
While he threw a career-high 11 interceptions in 2025, he also established career highs in touchdown passes and yards. He’s run for 500+ sack-excluded yards each year. His electric style would make for an explosive threat alongside Illinois’ deep roster of offensive weapons.
Lincoln Kienholz – Ohio State University
This is a name with which you are likely familiar. The South Dakota native is a dual-threat talent who is blocked by Justin Sayin. With two years of eligibility left, Kienholz resembles the Luke Altmyer/Brandon Peters prototype. He was a highly touted prep prospect who was simply passed on the depth chart.
His rushing ability creates more upside than his arm strength. In the Illinois offense that largely depends on getting the ball out quickly, Kienholz could thrive on intermediate routes.
He’s been in practice with elite coaches and players for multiple years. Could he be the next Quinn Ewers or Joe Burrow? Champaign seems as good a place as any to find out.
Kenny Minchey – Notre Dame
Similar to Kienholz, Minchey is a premium talent playing at a blue-blood program. Also like Kienholz, Minchey has two years of eligibility remaining.
He’s largely an unknown as a college player. He’s thrown a total of 29 passes for the Irish. But he was a top-200 prospect coming out of the Nashville area.
He’s a former Pitt commit with a prep reputation for being an excellent pocket passer with above-average mobility. It’s easy to dream on the physical tools and the prospect pedigree. But is he closer to Luke Altmyer or Hudson Card?
Taron Dickens – Western Carolina
Dickens threw for over 3,500 yards with 38 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
Seriously, those are the video game numbers he put up for the Catamounts last season. He also ran for over 300 yards, so he clearly is a dual-threat option.
Clearly, he will have a significant opportunity to capitalize on his impressive statistics in the portal.
With two years of eligibility, the 5’11 Miami native looks poised to follow up his historic sophomore season at a higher level.
Anthony Colandrea – UNLV
The Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year transferred to UNLV after starting his collegiate career in Charlottesville. Colandrea is a St. Petersburg native, so schools like Florida State and UCF will undoubtedly be involved.
The talent is there. But he’s thrown 29 interceptions in three college seasons, which could cap his upside. He ran for over 600 yards in his junior season, so the dual-threat talent may be too tantalizing for programs in the portal, including the Illini. If he can limit turnovers (or if his next school can build around his skill set), he could be a solid pickup.
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