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In Champaign, Illinois, Luke Altmyer and Hank Beatty have been making waves on the football field, significantly enhancing their prospects for the NFL draft during their final year at Illinois. These talented seniors left an indelible mark on the sport with outstanding performances that caught the attention of scouts and fans alike.
Altmyer closed out his collegiate career with an impressive tally of nearly 8,000 passing yards, showcasing his prowess as a quarterback. Meanwhile, Beatty demonstrated his skills as a wide receiver by amassing 70 receptions for a total of 864 yards, earning him a well-deserved spot on the All-Big Ten third team. Their contributions were instrumental in Illinois’ success, helping the team secure 19 victories over the last two seasons.
The Illinois football Pro Day presented a golden opportunity for these athletes to further solidify their reputations and attract interest from NFL teams. Altmyer participated in a meticulously planned passing session, drawing inspiration from an approach that Illinois head coach Bret Bielema observed during Baker Mayfield’s pro day at Oklahoma, back when Bielema was an NFL assistant.
Bielema has high hopes for Altmyer’s future, firmly believing that he has the potential to become a significant asset in professional football. Both Altmyer and Beatty have demonstrated the kind of dedication and skill that could make them valuable additions to any NFL roster.
Bielema thinks Altmyer can carve out a key role in Pro Football
“A lot of times in the NFL, you’ve got that elite quarterback, and I’m not saying Luke is going to be that, but if a guy’s your franchise guy making 100 and whatever million (dollars), you need that next guy that can be extremely reliable, dependable, and maybe he doesn’t come with a huge price tag,” Bielema said. “To get him draftable in that slot for 2 to 3 years and see when his moment comes, I think that’s been awesome.”
Beatty could find his way into the NFL through a variety of roles, including a receiver and/or as a return man.
“There’s probably two or three teams that have reached out to me repeatedly about Hank, and I expect one of those teams will probably grab him sooner than others,” Bielema said.
“His skill set, his intangibles, his football IQ, and his work ethic I think are going to scream through and he ran for a good time today, so I’m excited to see where he goes.”