Luke Altmyer Breaks Silence on Hank Beatty’s Historic Feat After Illinois WR’s Surprise Take

“Some people didn’t vote for us at all,” Bret Bielema said. But yesterday’s trouncing victory over Western Illinois should push the CFP committee to rethink. Luke Altmyer took a few hits, but he was still able to power through and lead the Illini to a commanding 52-3 victory. But the most important storyline of that show is that he did it with a new supporting cast around him. And among that crew, one star announced himself while breaking a century-old record.

The biggest question mark for Bielema ahead of Illinois’ opener was the capability of a relatively inexperienced WR room. The departures of Pat Bryant and Zakhari Williams meant that the room was lacking the production of its most important duo. But beneath their spotlight, WR Hank Beatty patiently awaited his chance for the last few years. Last year, he created some noise by becoming a punt returner and was expected to be part of the crew that filled in for Bryant and Williams. Against Western Illinois today, Beatty stunned the crowd with a 69-yard punt that was returned for a TD. Three more returns totaled his game stats to 133 yards, breaking Red Grange’s 1923 record.

QB Luke Altmyer was all praise about Beatty’s performance. “Hank obviously had an awesome day, a historic day, and he earned it. You know, he has done everything right, you know, for four years… He’s on his way to doing some really cool things and it was good to see him do it and some other guys too and just mixing it up,” he said in a post-game press conference. Beatty’s brilliance was stalled for a long time, as he featured deeper in the depth chart. But this is a fresh slate for the Illini WR room, and Beatty just booked a page for himself.

Grange, aka the Galloping Ghost, set his record against Nebraska with a 125 punt return yards. And that’s not the only record that 69-yard return broke. This was Illinois’s first punt return TD since 2013, against Ohio State. “I was talking with (Western Illinois coach) Joe Davis before the game, and he said they don’t want to punt it to Hank,” Bielema said about his now-star WR. WR coach Justin Stepp’s storied career and track record with WRs is going to be instrumental as he guides this new unit to success. Expect a lot more from Beatty in the season.

Hank Beatty shies away from the spotlight after his feat

Prior to the opening game, there were doubts about Beatty’s unproven nature. He’s been at Champaign for quite some time, and this is the first opportunity for him to play a bigger role. But despite being lower on the depth chart than WR Hudson Clement, Beatty ended up leading the room in the WIU game with 108 yards on 5 receptions. Still, for that show-stopping moment in the third quarter, he’s not taking all the credit.

“I think a big part of that was my guys blocking for me on that one. [Because] I really didn’t have to make a move on anybody till I was like,  inside the 20-yard line, maybe. And then, I was just like, I wanted to get in the end zone. So, I was cutting it back no matter what,” Hank Beatty told the press after the game. Illinois’ TD punt return drought was also the longest ever in the FBS, marking 11 years now. But with this grand feat, Beatty is setting the stage for more brilliance. When asked if another was coming in the season, he said, “I hope so.”

The CFP Committee had better pay heed to Bielema’s comments, because he proved that Illinois means business this year. Luke Altmyer doesn’t have his NFL-caliber receiving duo anymore. But he sure has struck harmony with this new and promising one. Leading the charge, of course, is Hank Beatty.