CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Chambana Today) — Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer has been named the Paul Hornung Award Player of the Week after a record-setting, do-it-all performance in the Illini’s 34-32 victory over No. 21 USC. The Hornung Award recognizes the most versatile player in major college football each week, and in Week 5, no one fit the description better than Altmyer.
The junior signal-caller delivered a career performance, accounting for four total touchdowns—two passing, one rushing, and one receiving—while racking up 359 yards of offense. Altmyer became the first Big Ten player in at least three decades to post 300+ passing yards, a passing TD, a rushing TD, and a receiving TD in the same game.
He’s also the first Illini player to score via pass, run, and catch in a single game since Kurt Kittner did it in the 1999 MicronPC.com Bowl against Virginia.
Altmyer once again showed why he’s one of college football’s most clutch performers. With the game on the line, he engineered his sixth career game-winning drive in the final minute or overtime—more than any other quarterback in the nation over the last three seasons. This time, he led the 23rd-ranked Illini down the field to set up freshman kicker David Olano’s 41-yard game-winner as time expired.
Altmyer’s versatility and leadership helped Illinois leap to No. 22 in the rankings as they prepare for a road trip to Purdue this Saturday. Kickoff is at 11 a.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
