{"id":454371,"date":"2026-02-07T11:27:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T11:27:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/454371\/"},"modified":"2026-02-07T11:27:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T11:27:10","slug":"luke-altmyer-previews-pre-nfl-draft-process-talks-partnership-with-us-cellular","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/454371\/","title":{"rendered":"Luke Altmyer previews pre-NFL Draft process, talks partnership with US Cellular"},"content":{"rendered":"

After the best season of his career at Illinois<\/a> this past season, Luke Altmyer<\/a> is getting ready for his next step. The 2026 NFL Draft<\/a> awaits, and the pre-draft process is well underway.<\/p>\n

Altmyer was in Mobile, Ala. last week for the Senior Bowl, where he got to work alongside other former college stars. He went through practices with NFL<\/a> coaches with league personnel in attendance, and he completed 5-of-8 passes for 21 yards in the game.<\/p>\n

Throughout the week, Altmyer was able to learn from the coaches as part of his preparation for the NFL. He admitted it wasn\u2019t always easy, but he understands what the payoff will be.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was challenged every single day, but in the best way possible,\u201d Altmyer told On3 via Zoom on behalf of U.S. Cellular. \u201cIt was super beneficial for me, being able to be around so many great players, people who I respect across the country who\u2019ve done awesome things like myself at their universities. To collaborate, to learn from, to bounce ideas off of them and to be able to conversate with some of the best around the country was just such a blessing and a challenge that was awesome.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd also, the coaching. My first NFL experience and a good kickstart, springboard, into what\u2019s to come. It gave me a lot of confidence and did some really good things. It was awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n

Luke Altmyer part of new US Cellular campaign<\/p>\n

As he embarks on the pre-draft process, Luke Altmyer is also part of U.S. Cellular\u2019s \u201cBetter Together<\/a>\u201d campaign. He and former Illinois teammate Cole Rusk<\/a> teamed up to share behind-the-scenes content and provide an inside look at how their relationship amplifies their in-game performance.<\/p>\n

Altmyer is part of an impressive athlete roster. Iowa State<\/a> women\u2019s basketball stars Audi Crooks<\/a> and Jada Williams<\/a>, and Iowa<\/a> stars Hannah Stuelke<\/a> and Taylor McCabe<\/a> are also part of the campaign.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe theme of it is doing things with people that you value, that you\u2019re friends with, close with,\u201d Altmyer said. \u201cThe theme of it is, \u2018Better Together.\u2019 Doing things with the people that you love, that you value, is always better together.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve done a lot of activities throughout the campaign that\u2019s been so fun. It would\u2019ve been fun doing it alone, but doing it with someone that you\u2019re very close with has been a lot better. That\u2019s kind of been the theme of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

How Luke Altmyer got out of \u2018comfort zone\u2019<\/p>\n

Luke Altmyer knew was he was getting into with the Senior Bowl, which is one of the first events in the pre-draft process. Scouts and executives from across the NFL make their way to Mobile as the prospects in attendance go through 1-on-1 workouts and practices in the lead-up to the game.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also an opportunity for those players to improve their draft stock, which adds to the competitive nature of the event. To Altmyer, it was also a way to get out of his comfort zone, which he said is important with the draft looming. ESPN\u2019s Mel Kiper Jr. listed the former Illinois star as his No. 10-ranked quarterback prospect in after the national championship<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went into it wanting to be challenged, knowing that when you\u2019re challenged, you get out of your comfort zone a little bit,\u201d Altmyer said. \u201cThat\u2019s when your comfort zone grows, and I\u2019ve grown significantly over the, really, month and some change over this course of a time. It\u2019s been great working with somebody who I trust greatly with David Morris and QB Country, alongside some other people who have pushed me to my limits physically, spiritually, emotionally, mentally.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m learning, and it\u2019s been great. Setting me up for a great run at a rookie year and a great draft process. It\u2019s a daily grind, but it\u2019s so much fun.\u201d<\/p>\n