Luke Altmyer: Stats| College| NFL| 247| ESPN| Lions| Wikipedia

Who is Luke Altmyer?

Luke Altmyer is an American football quarterback who played college football for the Ole Miss Rebels and Illinois Fighting Illini. He was born on October 22, 2002, in Starkville, Mississippi.

Altmyer developed into Illinois’ starting quarterback after transferring from Ole Miss. His best college season came in 2025, when he passed for 3,007 yards and 22 touchdowns while throwing only five interceptions.

He finished his college career with 7,924 passing yards, 60 passing touchdowns and 24 interceptions.

Luke Altmyer college career

Altmyer’s college journey began at Ole Miss. He spent two seasons with the Rebels before transferring to Illinois ahead of the 2023 season.

At Illinois, he quickly became an important part of head coach Bret Bielema’s offense. In 2023, Altmyer started nine games and completed 175 of 270 passes for 1,883 yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also rushed for 282 yards and three touchdowns.

His development continued in 2024. Altmyer started all 13 games and produced 2,717 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions. His passing efficiency increased to 144.0.

The quarterback saved his best statistical season for 2025.

Luke Altmyer stats

Altmyer’s college numbers show steady improvement throughout his Illinois career.

His career completion percentage was 63.7%, while his career passing efficiency was 142.4. He also finished with 744 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns.

Luke Altmyer 2025 stats

The 2025 season was particularly important for Altmyer’s NFL prospects.

He completed 246 of 365 passes, good for a 67.4% completion rate. He threw for 3,007 yards, 22 touchdowns and five interceptions, producing a 153.7 passer rating. He also added 242 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.

Illinois recognized his impact by naming him a team captain. He also earned All-Big Ten honorable mention recognition from the coaches.

Altmyer finished his Illinois career with a 23-12 record as a starter, giving him the second-most wins by a starting quarterback in Illinois history at the time, behind Kurt Kittner.

Luke Altmyer and Illinois

Altmyer became one of the most productive Illinois quarterbacks of the modern era.

His 2024 season helped Illinois produce one of its strongest campaigns in years. He returned for 2025 after announcing that he would remain with the Fighting Illini. During that final season, he surpassed 3,000 passing yards and helped Illinois finish 9-4.

One of his biggest performances came against Purdue in 2025, when he threw for 390 yards and a touchdown on 19-of-22 passing.

He also earned Music City Bowl MVP honors after helping Illinois defeat Tennessee 30-28. Altmyer threw for 196 yards and a touchdown while adding 54 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.

Luke Altmyer NFL draft

Altmyer entered the 2026 NFL Draft after his senior season at Illinois.

Despite his strong college production, he was not selected during the seven-round draft. His path therefore became that of an undrafted free agent.

That outcome was disappointing for a quarterback who had generated significant pre-draft interest. 247Sports reported on the emotional experience Altmyer went through after going undrafted, describing the draft-day disappointment and how it motivated him for the next stage of his career.

ESPN’s pre-draft evaluations were more encouraging. One ESPN ranking placed Altmyer among the top quarterbacks in the 2026 class and projected him as a potential late-Day-3 or undrafted player. ESPN highlighted his quick processing, accuracy and ability to distribute the ball.

Luke Altmyer and 247Sports

The 247Sports evaluation of Altmyer is relevant because he entered college as a highly regarded quarterback recruit before eventually transferring to Illinois.

His college-to-NFL story received additional attention from 247Sports after the 2026 draft, particularly because of his unusual transition from a successful Illinois starter to an undrafted NFL rookie.

Altmyer’s progression also demonstrates why recruiting rankings are only one part of a quarterback’s development. His biggest jump came after transferring to Illinois, where he received consistent starting opportunities.

Luke Altmyer ESPN profile

ESPN lists Altmyer as a quarterback for the Detroit Lions. The current ESPN profile lists him at 6-foot-1 and 213 pounds, with Illinois as his college and rookie status in the NFL.

Before the draft, ESPN’s scouting reports identified several strengths in Altmyer’s game. He was praised for processing defenses quickly, getting the ball out efficiently and performing accurately in the quick passing game. ESPN also noted that his off-target rate was among the better marks in the FBS.

However, ESPN also identified areas that could limit his NFL ceiling. Altmyer’s willingness to search for big plays can sometimes result in forced throws, while his arm strength was viewed as more functional than elite.

Luke Altmyer NFL status

Altmyer is now with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted rookie quarterback.

The official Lions roster lists him as No. 2, quarterback, 6-foot-1 and 213 pounds, with Illinois as his college.

He entered training camp competing for a place in Detroit’s quarterback room behind Jared Goff.

His opportunity became even more significant when Teddy Bridgewater stepped away from the Lions. Detroit subsequently added veteran quarterback Joshua Dobbs, leaving Altmyer competing with Dobbs for a backup role behind Goff.

Luke Altmyer Lions competition

Altmyer’s preseason performance is particularly important because undrafted rookies must generally prove themselves quickly.

Recent Lions coverage has highlighted his progress in training camp. He has received additional reps with the second-team offense and has shown accuracy and adequate arm strength, although he has also experienced difficult moments that are normal for a rookie quarterback.

Detroit’s first preseason game against Cincinnati provided another opportunity. With many starters resting, Altmyer was expected to receive significant playing time.

That makes the preseason a major part of his effort to secure a roster spot.

Luke Altmyer NFL preseason stats

According to ESPN’s current player page, Altmyer’s first listed NFL game produced:

• 13 completions
• 22 attempts
• 130 passing yards
• 1 passing touchdown
• 2 interceptions
• 59.1% completion rate
• 4 rushing attempts for 1 yard

Those numbers came in his preseason action for Detroit and provide an early snapshot of his adjustment to NFL competition.

One game should not determine his NFL future, particularly for an undrafted rookie. The more important question is how he responds to coaching, pressure and subsequent preseason opportunities.

How good is Luke Altmyer?

Altmyer’s biggest advantage is his experience.

He played 44 college games and made 36 starts, finishing with nearly 8,000 passing yards. He also played in a major conference and regularly faced Big Ten defenses.

His 2024 and 2025 production is particularly impressive. Across those two seasons, he threw for 5,724 yards and 44 touchdowns with only 11 interceptions. ESPN highlighted his efficiency and decision-making during that stretch.

His biggest challenge is translating that production to the NFL.

NFL defenses close throwing windows faster, defensive linemen are more athletic and mistakes are punished more severely. Altmyer must therefore demonstrate that his quick processing and accuracy can overcome questions about his arm strength and sack rate.

Luke Altmyer Wikipedia

Luke Altmyer’s Wikipedia page provides a broad overview of his college career, including his time at Ole Miss and Illinois.

The page records his progression from Ole Miss reserve quarterback to Illinois starter and includes his season-by-season statistics. It lists his Illinois career totals as 7,607 passing yards, 57 touchdowns and 21 interceptions, with his overall college totals reaching 7,924 passing yards, 60 touchdowns and 24 interceptions.

For current NFL information, however, official Lions and NFL roster pages are more useful because roster status can change during preseason.

Luke Altmyer height and weight

There are slight differences between databases regarding Altmyer’s listed measurements.

ESPN’s current NFL profile lists him at 6-foot-1 and 213 pounds, while NFL.com and the Lions also list him at approximately 6-foot-1 and 210-213 pounds.

Before the draft, ESPN scouting material commonly listed him around 6-foot-2 and 205-210 pounds.

Luke Altmyer’s NFL future

Altmyer’s NFL story is still being written.

Going undrafted does not mean a quarterback cannot build an NFL career. For Altmyer, the immediate objective is to show the Lions that his college strengths translate to professional football.

Detroit has Jared Goff as its established starter and added Joshua Dobbs for veteran depth. That means Altmyer’s route to playing time will be difficult. Still, his developmental upside gives him a reason to compete for a roster or practice-squad position.

The preseason is therefore critical. Strong performances could increase his chances of staying in Detroit, while inconsistent play could make his roster position more difficult to secure.

Final thoughts

Luke Altmyer’s journey from Starkville, Mississippi, to Ole Miss, Illinois and now the Detroit Lions is an interesting NFL quarterback story.

His college résumé is impressive: 7,924 passing yards, 60 passing touchdowns, 24 interceptions and 36 starts. His final two seasons at Illinois showed substantial improvement, including more than 5,700 passing yards and 44 touchdowns.

Although Altmyer went undrafted in 2026, the Lions gave him an opportunity to compete. With his accuracy, mobility, experience and quick processing, he has the tools to make his case.

For now, the key question is not why Luke Altmyer went undrafted. It is whether he can turn his strong college résumé into a sustainable NFL career with Detroit.

FAQs

Is Luke Altmyer in the NFL?

Yes. Luke Altmyer is an NFL quarterback with the Detroit Lions after entering the league as an undrafted rookie in 2026.

What college did Luke Altmyer attend?

Altmyer played at Ole Miss before transferring to Illinois. He became Illinois’ starting quarterback and finished his college career with the Fighting Illini.

What were Luke Altmyer’s 2025 stats?

In 2025, Altmyer completed 246 of 365 passes for 3,007 yards, 22 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also rushed for 242 yards and five touchdowns.

Was Luke Altmyer drafted?

No. Altmyer went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft before joining the Detroit Lions as an undrafted rookie.

Is Luke Altmyer on the Lions?

Yes. The Detroit Lions currently list Altmyer on their roster as a quarterback wearing No. 2.

How tall is Luke Altmyer?

The Lions and ESPN currently list Altmyer at approximately 6-foot-1. ESPN lists his weight at 213 pounds.

What are Luke Altmyer’s career college stats?

Altmyer finished with 7,924 passing yards, 60 passing touchdowns and 24 interceptions over 44 college games. He also recorded 744 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns.