KnowTheScore
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- Joined
- Aug 12, 2025
- Messages
- 13
Since 2006, Illinois has started 11, 8, 5, 4, 4, 6, 8, 10, 8, 10, 10, 6, 5, 6, 8, 5, 4, and 6 white athletes. They project to start 7 in 2025.
Bret Bielema’s team will be one to watch for us primarily because of the white talent on offense. Senior QB Luke Altmyer returns after throwing for 2700 yards and 22 touchdowns last year; I imagine he will be one of the better Big 10 QBs this year. Former West Virginia walk-on Hudson Clement will be the top receiver in the room this season going off of past production. Clement caught five touchdowns and 741 yards last season. It is “weird” that such a talent had to start off as a walk-on. It is even weirder that a receiver who eclipsed 700 yards at the power four level can’t even be considered a four star transfer according to “experts.” Altmyer will also be throwing to TE Tanner Arkin although it does not look like the offense typically utilizes TEs that much. Even better than the pass-catchers is the fact that Aidan Laughery, a RS junior, is listed as first team on the depth chart at running back. Laughery ran for just shy of 600 yards last season. It is unfortunate that there is only one defensive starter, but I think the offense will still make this a team to watch.
The depth of this team is also better than most previewed so far with 10 whites listed on the two deep. While some of these players are seniors, many are not. It is pretty cool that a lot of the depth pieces are local guys from around the state considering the vast number of coaches that simply ignore in-state talent for upsiders from the South.
Illinois is ranked as the number 12 team to start the season, which I am pretty sure is their highest preseason rank in at least 50 years (possibly ever?). It would be very cool to see this team with whites at QB, WR, and RB make a run to the playoffs.
Starters
WR Hudson Clement
OG Josh Gesky
OC Josh Kreutz
TE Tanner Arkin
QB Luke Altmyer
RB Aidan Laughery
MLB Dylan Rosiek
Depth
OT Ayden Knapik
OG Brandon Hansen
C TJ McMillen
TE Cole Rusk
QB Ethan Hamton (former NIU QB – led upset of ND last year for the Huskies)
DE Pat Fartell
DE Carter Hewitt
WLB James Kruetz
ROLB Joe Barna
S Mac Resetich
Bret Bielema’s team will be one to watch for us primarily because of the white talent on offense. Senior QB Luke Altmyer returns after throwing for 2700 yards and 22 touchdowns last year; I imagine he will be one of the better Big 10 QBs this year. Former West Virginia walk-on Hudson Clement will be the top receiver in the room this season going off of past production. Clement caught five touchdowns and 741 yards last season. It is “weird” that such a talent had to start off as a walk-on. It is even weirder that a receiver who eclipsed 700 yards at the power four level can’t even be considered a four star transfer according to “experts.” Altmyer will also be throwing to TE Tanner Arkin although it does not look like the offense typically utilizes TEs that much. Even better than the pass-catchers is the fact that Aidan Laughery, a RS junior, is listed as first team on the depth chart at running back. Laughery ran for just shy of 600 yards last season. It is unfortunate that there is only one defensive starter, but I think the offense will still make this a team to watch.
The depth of this team is also better than most previewed so far with 10 whites listed on the two deep. While some of these players are seniors, many are not. It is pretty cool that a lot of the depth pieces are local guys from around the state considering the vast number of coaches that simply ignore in-state talent for upsiders from the South.
Illinois is ranked as the number 12 team to start the season, which I am pretty sure is their highest preseason rank in at least 50 years (possibly ever?). It would be very cool to see this team with whites at QB, WR, and RB make a run to the playoffs.
Starters
WR Hudson Clement
OG Josh Gesky
OC Josh Kreutz
TE Tanner Arkin
QB Luke Altmyer
RB Aidan Laughery
MLB Dylan Rosiek
Depth
OT Ayden Knapik
OG Brandon Hansen
C TJ McMillen
TE Cole Rusk
QB Ethan Hamton (former NIU QB – led upset of ND last year for the Huskies)
DE Pat Fartell
DE Carter Hewitt
WLB James Kruetz
ROLB Joe Barna
S Mac Resetich
