Two Illinois Players Named to Big Ten Preseason Football Honors List

Quarterback Luke Altmyer and linebacker Gabe Jacas received preseason honors at Big Ten Football Media Days

Sep 28, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) drops back to throw during the third quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Illinois 21-7. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images | Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Tuesday marks the first of the 2025 Big Ten Football Media Days – what has blown up into a several-day event that this year is being staged in that well-known Big Ten enclave of, ahem, Las Vegas.

And while it seems the Illinois coaches and players in attendance are enjoying their time in Sin City (see the Instagram pics below), the first bit of football news to trickle out of the preseason conference summit should delight Illini fans as well.

Included on the 2025 Big Ten Preseason Honors list – an exclusive 16-member group selected by a media panel – were Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer and linebacker Gabe Jacas.

Altmyer, a 6-foot-2 senior coming off a 2024 season in which he was named All-Big Ten honorable mention, was one of only two quarterbacks on the list (along with Penn State's Drew Allar). Jacas, a 6-foot-3, 275-pound senior who was an All-Big Ten third team selection last year, has been climbing up NFL Draft boards and is now a projected first-round pick. Altmyer and Jacas should be the fulcrums of the Illini offense and defense, respectively, this fall.

Only seven of 18 Big Ten teams were represented on the list, and Illinois – embracing the great expectations after its 10-win season and Citrus Bowl victory – landed two spots. Ohio State and Penn State were the only schools with as many as three representatives, and Buckeyes receiver Jeremiah Smith was the list's only unanimous selection. See below for all 16 selections.

2025 Big Ten Preseason Honors

QB Luke Altmyer, Illinois

OLB Gabe Jacas, Illinois

DL Mikail Kamara, Indiana

DB D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana

OT Gennings Dunker, Iowa

C Logan Jones, Iowa

DB Koi Perich, Minnesota

OLB Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon

DB Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State

LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

QB Drew Allar, Penn State

DE Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State

RB Nicholas Singleton, Penn State

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