Bret Bielema Douglas C. and Linda M. Mills Endowed Head Football Coach | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Bret Bielema Douglas C. and Linda M. Mills Endowed Head Football Coach | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer has been named to the preseason watch list for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, according to an announcement by the Walter Camp Football Foundation. Altmyer is among 46 players recognized on this year’s list, which features 22 quarterbacks and includes 10 representatives from the Big Ten Conference.
Altmyer is only the second player in Illinois program history to appear on the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award preseason watch list. The first was consensus All-American defensive lineman Johnny Newton in 2023. Running back Chase Brown was a semifinalist for the award in 2022.
The Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, established in 1967, honors "the most outstanding player in college football." It is named after Walter Camp, known as "the father of American football" for his contributions to shaping key elements of the game such as plays from scrimmage and team size. The winner is selected through votes by FBS head coaches and sports information directors nationwide.
Previous winners include Travis Hunter (Colorado) in 2024, Jayden Daniels (LSU) in 2023, and Caleb Williams (USC) in 2022.
Altmyer's recent accolades include selection to several other watch lists: Maxwell Award, Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team, Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten Third Team, Big Ten Preseason Honors, and Wooden Citizen Cup nominee. He received All-Big Ten Honorable Mention last season. In his career so far, he leads all players with five game-winning drives in either the final minute or overtime. He was also part of the Davey O'Brien Award Class of 2024 as one of college football’s top quarterbacks.
In 2024, Altmyer started every game for Illinois and helped lead them to a 10-3 record—matching their best single-season win total. He threw for 22 touchdowns against just six interceptions that year.
Other Illinois players appearing on national award watch lists as of August 4 are Hank Beatty (Paul Hornung Award), J.C. Davis (Outland Trophy), Gabe Jacas (Lott IMPACT Trophy and Bronko Nagurski Trophy), Kenenna Odeluga (Allstate Wuerffel Trophy), and Xavier Scott (Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Paycom Jim Thorpe Award).
Alerts Sign-up