The last time Penn State played against Luke Altmyer, he threw four interceptions and was sacked once in the Nittany Lions’ 30-13 win over Illinois last year.
Altmyer has cut down on his turnovers through four games this season, which has led to the Illini getting off to their first 4-0 start since 2011.
“They’re putting up some really good numbers,” Penn State coach James Franklin said Monday. “I think the biggest difference is the quarterback (Altmyer). He has 10 touchdown passes and zero interceptions. He’s one of the most improved players in the country.”
The ninth-ranked Lions (3-0) meet Altmyer again when they take on No. 19 Illinois (1-0, 4-0) Saturday night at 7:30 (TV-NBC) at Beaver Stadium.
The 6-2, 205-pound Altmyer was a four-star prospect out of Starkville, Miss., who played at Mississippi for two seasons before transferring to Illinois last year.
Abdul Carter, Cam Miller, Daequan Hardy and Johnny Dixon intercepted him in that Penn State win last year at Champaign, Ill. He completed 64.8% of his passes last year for 1,993 yards and 13 touchdowns with 10 interceptions before he missed the final three games with an injury.
This season, he’s completing 71.4% of his attempts for 862 yards. Last week at Nebraska, he went 21-for-27 for 236 yards and four TDs and threw the game-winning pass in overtime. He was named the Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week on Monday.
“He’s doing a really good job of managing the game,” Franklin said. “He’s throwing completions for a high percentage. He’s protecting the football. He’s getting the ball into the end zone. He’s really doing a nice job.”
Illinois has defeated Eastern Illinois, Kansas, Central Michigan and Nebraska. The Illini rank 51st in the country in scoring (32.3), 73rd in rushing (156.5), 77th in passing (222.8) and 82nd in total offense (379.3).
Kaden Feagin, who’s 6-3 and 250 pounds, is the leading rusher with 242 yards and three touchdowns. Josh McCray, who’s also part of a four-man rotation, ran for 142 yards against Penn State three years ago in Illinois’ nine-overtime win at Beaver Stadium.
Zakhari Franklin and Pat Bryant, who has six touchdown catches, are the Illini’s top receivers.
“Feagin is a thumper,” James Franklin said. “They’ve had really good production out of Bryant and Franklin. They’re mixing up personnel. They’re mixing up schemes. They’re mixing up tempo.”
Illinois will face a Penn State secondary that will be without premier safety KJ Winston for perhaps the rest of the season. Elliot Washington II started at cornerback last week in place of A.J. Harris, who Franklin said was battling a stomach virus.
“Elliot has been playing really well and practicing really well,” Franklin said. “He earned the opportunity to get more playing time. A.J. missed a little bit of practice time and wasn’t able to eat the day before the game and the morning of the game. He bounced back and played well.”
The Lions also have Miller, Jalen Kimber, Zion Tracy and Audavion Collins at corner.
“We have so much depth and talent at the corner position,” Franklin said. “Some of those corners are able to play the nickel position and the safety position (to make up for Winston’s absence).”
Penn State’s corners will be challenged by Altmyer.
“Sometimes we want to point to a specific reason as to why a guy is playing better,” Franklin said. “Sometimes it’s just that they’re a year older, have more experience and are more comfortable and more confident. He’s improved across the board.”
