Bret Bielema’s Illinois squad is no longer flying under the radar. They’re embracing the target on their backs after a landmark 10-win campaign last year. At the heart of Illinois’ offense is quarterback Luke Altmyer, a third-year starter, who made winning plays down the stretch to secure close games last season. He threw for 2,717 yards with 22 touchdowns last year, adding 217 rushing yards and four scores himself, showing off his dual-threat capability. Now, the hype surrounding him is warranted, but it also raises an important question. What’s the backup QB plan? Bielema knows expectations are sky high, and so is the pressure. With a tougher schedule looming, including a marquee game against Ohio State, the margin of error is slim.

Amid all this, he should find a reliable prospect who can be a backup QB to Luke Altmyer if required. Which brings us to Carson Boyd (widely known as Cart’Dawg), the calm in the storm and the trusty sidekick to Altmyer. Hailing from East Saint Louis, Illinois, Boyd’s journey to the Fighting Illini is marked by convincing performances and leadership from his high school days at Cardinal Ritter College Prep. There, he led his team to the Missouri state championships (38-25) while splitting time with another Division 1 quarterback. Despite not consistently starting earlier, his completion percentage is an impressive 80%. And if you were to consider his split-time stats as a complete season, he would have thrown for 3,734 yards with 57 passing touchdowns. And also adding 1,138 yards rushing and nine rushing touchdowns.

“We just signed Carson Boyd, who has really been an impressive guy in fall camp,” Bielema said in a recent one-on-one interview with Corey Miller of KSDK news. Boyd, who enrolled early, has described himself as “like a sponge,” absorbing every bit of knowledge and experience he can from Altmyer and the entire Illinois coaching staff. He’s been seizing the chance to watch and learn from Altmyer’s command of the offense. Despite a lack of game experience so far, Cart’Dawg’s attitude is to actively listen and apply. This mindset is setting him up well to be a reliable safety net in a challenging 2025 schedule.

Illinois will heavily lean on Altmyer, but it needs assurance that Boyd can step in seamlessly if called upon. The respect and trust between these two quarterbacks create a QB room culture built on readiness and confidence. That bodes well for the Illini’s continuity and success going forward. When Miller asked Bielema what about Boyd impressed him, Bielema was very candid about it. “Just him, man” he said. “First, mom and dad raised a great kid, and then you go when you go into a home visit or that day they met us at the school,  literally we’re in his dad’s office and there must have been 20-30 people in there, right? You got grandma and grandpas and uncles and cousins and brothers and sisters. But I also think that the young man wants to represent them.” He also added, “he represents us,but I can tell you, when he represents his family, he’s represented in a way that very very few can find fault with.” The enthusiasm in Bret Bielema’s voice underscored that he has been genuinely impressed by Carson Boyd.

This dynamic is important to Bielema’s vision for the team culture. He needs players who are deeply connected to their communities and families. As that often translates into accountability and pride on and off the field. Players like Carson Boyd bring not only skill but a mentality that fits Bielema’s vision. Lastly, Illinois’ recent success, including four straight top-50 recruiting classes and historic attendance growth, shows the effectiveness of retaining local talents.

Luke Altmyer’s battle with expectations

Luke Altmyer faced significant doubts last season. It’s not just about his on-field decisions, but also about mental health struggles.  Altmyer openly admitted to moments of hesitation during games. He worried about making mistakes in a role that demanded matching the high expectations set by the team’s previous successes. This internal tension affected his confidence and decision-making. Despite those challenges, Illinois’ offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. remains optimistic about Altmyer’s potential for growth and sees a lot of room for improvement this season.

According to Lunney, Altmyer has put in the effort to elevate his game mechanics, strengthen his body control, and boost his understanding of the offense. This work is expected to take Altmyer’s confidence and play to a new level in 2025. Lunney believes that while doubts linger from last year, the quarterback’s trajectory is upward. Altmyer himself has expressed a renewed mindset, describing his growth not just physically but mentally and emotionally.

He credits faith and the support system around him as essential pillars in overcoming adversity. This mental and emotional growth behind the scenes is crucial. Lunney shares his insights with a bunch of local reporters that football at this level demands not just skill but resilience and leadership. Plus, Altmyer lacks helping hands for this season after Pat Bryant and Zakari Franklin moved into the NFL. The question now is whether Altmyer’s personal growth and resilience will be enough to overcome the inexperience surrounding him and keep the Illinois’ offense on track.