All right. Welcome in to the Lionanquire podcast, Jeremy Warner, Joey Wagner, and it's time.

It's time, Joey Wagner.

Let's talk about the big boys in the trenches,

the offensive line and defensive line as we continue our position previews. We're recording this on

August 22nd. So what is that? 11 days from kickoff of Illinois against Toledo. Still a nine

point spread from what I have seen. So we'll break down. What has been the strength of Illinois the last couple of years under Brett Bielman? What has been a huge reason of why they've taken a step forward? So I'm excited about this, Joy, but I want to hit on a few things before we dive right into the offensive line here. Luke Altmyer, new starting quarterback at Illinois, met with the media today.

You were there. You chatted with him. What was your big takeaway from Luke today?

He's really, really happy. It's an understatement to say he's really happy to have this job,

but I don't know that he always loves going back to talking about losing the job twice at Ole Miss.

And I almost want to rephrase that to losing it one. Like he lost as a true freshman to Matt Corral. That is a pretty understandable loss of a quarterback job. Seventh in the Heisman vote, Matt Corral, third-round draft break, Matt Corral. And Luke Albuyer was a backup true freshman. That's pretty good. That was pretty good for him. I think the one truly that Stings was last year, losing to Jackson Dart, who they brought in as a transfer. That one. That's what hurt. They brought in a transfer. Yeah, that's what stinks to him. So I almost feel bad going back, right, to all of that, but it's part of his story. And it's a lot of those experiences fueled him, not fueled him.

They educated him.

They helped him grow as a person to where he is now.

He seems really grounded in who he is.

As a football player, I think today was probably the most outward confidence. I remember hearing out of Luke

Altmire since he's committed. Not that he's ever been timid, but when he said, I believe I'm

good enough to lead this team or I believe in my ability, things like that where you just,

you feel it there and coming out with him a little bit. But I also think he's vulnerable

enough to say, yeah, that sucked.

Like that hurt.

It hurts losing a starting job.

And I think that played into what it means so much for him to have this job.

And look, Illinois didn't give him this job because he was hurt about Ole Miss.

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