After a 10-3 season, which included a 6-3 Big Ten record and a Cheez-It Citrus Bowl win over South Carolina, there are high hopes for more of the same with Illinois this season. To some, that may be a tall order, but the team has key players returning and a schedule that shows promise.
Even though the Illini experienced losses to the NFL and the transfer portal, the players who have decided to return are significant, not only for competing this season but also for continuing to shape the program’s
stability for the future. While a lot of the talent are juniors and seniors, the culture that makes them want to stay is essential to the program as a whole.
Offensively, the O-Line, which allowed 2.6 sacks per game (down from the previous year of 3.4 sacks per game), returns in its entirety. This line features four seniors and one junior. Leading this group is last season’s team Captain, redshirt-senior center Josh Kreutz. An All-Big Ten Honorable Mention in 2023 and 2024, Kreutz was rated as the fourth-best college center in 2024. He is currently on a streak of 25 consecutive starts since taking the job in 2023.
He has help in the form of redshirt-senior LG Josh Gesky, who is also a two-time All-Big-Ten Honorable Mention in 2023 and 24. Also on the left side, you have senior tackle JC Davis, who last season captured All-Big Ten third-team honors from the Coaches and All-Big Ten Honorable Mention from the Media. On the right side senior tackle Mel Priestly was an All-Big Ten honorable mention last year. Junior RG Brandon Henderson played all 13 games as a sophomore with seven starts. Good offenses start with good foundations, and the Illini have a good foundation.
Another vital cog is the man under the Center in starting QB Luke Altmyer, who is rated as the No. 2 QB in the B1G after spring practices in 2025. The maturation of Altmyer after coming to Illinois in 2023, when he threw for 1,833 yards with 13 TDs and 1 pick in nine games. Last season, throwing for over 2,700 yards with 22 TDs and only six picks. I think it is safe to say that he and Offensive Coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. have grown comfortable with each other. Altmyer has also proven that he is more than just a passer, with 499 yards and 7 TDs rushing in his two years at Illinois.
In the running back room, while Josh McCray has moved on, Aidan Laughery and Kaden Feagin are coming back. They combined for 915 yards and seven TDs last season. This also means an expanded role for sophomore Ca’Lil Valentine, who, in a limited role, racked up 227 yards and one TD on just 53 carries.
The WR room is one area of concern, even though Altmyer does have some familiar targets and talent to throw to, even after losing Pat Bryant (54 Catches, 984 yards, and 10 TDs) and Zakhari Franklin (55 Catches, 652 Yards, and 4TDs). To plug the gap, Bielema turned to the transfer portal for help. He brought in the #2 WR transfer this season by Pro Football Focus in Hudson Clement. Clement registered 51 catches, amassing 741 yards and 5 TDs for West Virginia.
The Illini also picked a second Flanker-type receiver in transfer junior from Ball State, Justin Bowick, who played three seasons at BSU. He started four games this past season, then redshirted after an injury. While at Ball State, he had 1,132 yards on 68 catches with 11 TDs.
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Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesOf the returning targets, Hank Beatty and Collin Dixon have the most experience. Beatty was the third-leading receiver last season. With 20 catches for 294 yards and one touchdown, he averaged over 14.7 yards per catch. Dixon was the fourth-leading pass catcher in 2024, with 18 catches for 264 yards and no touchdowns, but he averaged over 14.67 yards per catch. Malik Elzy is expected to assume the expanded role of Split End. Elzy only saw action in 10 games, hauling in four catches for 77 yards and one TD. However, he has demonstrated talent and had a strong spring.
Redshirt-senior Tanner Arkin will be the starting TE after a solid season last year: 16 catches, 111 yards, and 3 TDs. Redshirt-senior Cole Rusk will finally get his debut as an Illini. Last season, he sustained a season-ending knee injury in fall camp. In 2023, Rusk had 36 catches for over 500 yards and six TDs for the Murray State Racers. He was named All-Missouri Valley Honorable Mention and FCS All-American Third Team. You could see a platoon situation or a lot of two TE sets for Illinois.
