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CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - APRIL 17: Carson Boyd #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini participates in spring practice at Geis Memorial Stadium on April 17, 2026 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images for ONIT) | Getty Images for ONIT
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — There are three guarantees in life: Death, taxes, and head coach Bret Bielema finding gems at the quarterback position, courtesy of the transfer portal.
From one-year icon Tommy DeVito to campus legend Luke Altmyer and now, a battle-tested Kaitin Houser. Bielema has an eye for QBs looking for a new home to make a name for themselves.
Yet, a position fight that Bielema admits is a “non-storyline battle” is the fight for QB2.
Behind Houser, Illinois has constructed a three-man, gunslinging depth chart with determined young men who are ready to step up, get under center, and put it all on the line for the squad when needed. So, determining who will be the number two is a true challenge.
Bielema revealed during his media availability Tuesday night that his staff added cameras to their quarterbacks’ equipment, not only to see how they scan the field, but also to hear how they talk to their teammates.
“I always say ‘volume reflects confidence,’” Bielema said. “You can always tell when quarterbacks haven’t gotten a lot of reps; sometimes they don’t speak with great volume. People respect people with volume.”
With Houser having been a starting quarterback in college since 2023, his volume and tone when addressing his teammates is second to none. But that doesn’t mean Illinois has a group of Silent Bob’s in the depth chart.
“I think Carson [Boyd] and Michael [Clayton II] are in great competition,” Bielema said.
Boyd, a redshirt sophomore, looks to be the best candidate for the QB2 position. Given him redshirting the 2025-26 season, Boyd is not only familiar with the system but was also able to learn under Luke Altmyer during his final year of being a collegiate quarterback. Add all that with the fact that in his senior year of high school Boyd aired it out for 3,000+ yards and ran for 1,000+ and you got yourself a dangerous dual-threat QB ready to show his worth.
Clayton II, a 6-foot-4 freshman out of Orlando, was also no slouch in high school, as at the end of his four years Clayton had racked up 6,000+ passing yards while punching in 72 touchdowns. These stats had coaches all around the nation knocking on his door. Auburn, Miami, Michigan State, Nebraska, and many more dreamed of having Clayton wear their colors while leading the offensive unit. Yet when the dust settled, Clayton chose the orange and blue of the Fighting Illini to be the colors he wears in the fall.
However, there’s still one more quarterback that has garnered a lot of praise not only from his new head coach, but a large chunk of the state as well.
“To be quite honest, Dane [Eisenmenger] has been very impressive,” Bielema said. “He’s a guy from where we evaluated him two and a half years ago to where he is today made a huge jump, and obviously had a great senior year.”
Eisenmenger, a 6-foot-5 freshman from Unity, Illinois, hasn’t even suited up for a game, yet his jersey is selling like hot cakes.
Eisenmenger officially committed to the Illini on June 10, and by the end of the month, his jersey outsold names like his basketball counterparts Andrej Stojakovic and David Mirkovic.
While being from the state may have to do with it, his play on the field is what really gets people going and, ultimately, what landed him a chance to stay home and do what he loves most.
Eisenmenger followed the trend of previously discussed quarterbacks and dominated in his senior campaign, setting single-season records as he threw for 3,447 passing yards and 39 touchdowns, leading the Unity Rockets to a state runners-up finish.
And after leaving high school having set the career high passing yards (8,801) and touchdowns (111), the pride of Tolono looks to work his way up the depth chart and gain every piece of knowledge on his way up.
We must all knock on wood in hopes that nothing happens to Katin Houser as he looks to use his final year of eligibility to ball out for the orange and blue. But Illini faithful can rest easy knowing that no matter what, there’s a quarterback there that can get the job done with style.
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