Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer Calls Lamar Jackson the dual-threat G.O.A.T.
Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer Calls Lamar Jackson the dual-threat G.O.A.T.
It was officially "Illini Night" at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, as the Chicago Cubs defeated division rival Milwaukee 5-3. As part of the festivities, Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer got to have a very "how cool was that?!" moment- singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" alongside his head coach, Bret Bielema, during the seventh inning stretch.
Before the baseball game, Altmyer met with the media at a Wrigley Field adjacent pub, and talked some football.
Asked which NFL quarterbacks he follows and studies, Altmyer responded with a list that included Baltimore Ravens superstar Lamar Jackson.
"The guys you watch are the guys I watch, to be honest," Altmyer said at the University of Illinois private party, staged at the Brickhouse Tavern.
I watch (Patrick) Mahomes, (Joe) Burrow, (Josh) Allen, and Lamar for good reasons. They're the best at what they do. I watch them all really, and take a lot from each one of them.
Mahomes is pretty box office, so when he's playing, I'm tuning in, and Lamar and Burrow and Allen, I take a little bit from each of their games."
Altmyer, who transferred into Illinois from an SEC school (Ole Miss) and turned down multiple opportunities to return to the Southeastern Conference to stay in Champaign, completed 60% of his passes last season for 2,717 yards, 22 touchdown passes against just six interceptions.
He then mentioned his top quarterback role model, and it happens to be somebody that Bielema coached at the University of Wisconsin.
"But growing up, I think Russell Wilson, which is crazy coincidence, because that's Bielema's guy, so it's cool," Altmyer continued.
"Because I mimic his game a little bit, being able to run a little bit, throw it well, and a winner, and a guy who carries himself with some great character. So I look up to him a lot."
We naturally invited him to elaborate on Lamar, asking him point-blank if he's the dual-threat quarterback G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time).
"Yeah, that's pretty understood," Altmyer responded. "When he came out of college, people were saying he's gonna be a receiver.
"And his speed and his agility, his elusiveness, but I respect him so much because of the way he's grown his passing.
"I don't watch him because he's so elusive, I mean that's just raw talent, but just the way he operates within the pocket and makes the right throw, the right reads and I really think he's underrated."
There is certainly validity to the idea that Jackson, ranked the 6th best player in the league by CBS Sports this year, is underrated, despite all his accomplishments and accolades. He didn't win the MVP this past season, despite having the best statistical campaign of his career.
Altmyer expounded on the Lamar is underrated idea:
"Even as good as he is, as a two-time MVP, and I think he's still underrated, not because he can run, that's obvious, but the way he can make it happen, whatever possible way it takes."
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