CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Carson Boyd may be new to Champaign, having been here just six months and waiting to play his first game, but he is already making progress every single day.

The freshman quarterback joined Illinois in January following an impressive high school career at Cardinal Ritter in St. Louis. Boyd earned a three-star rating and helped lead the Raiders to an impressive 48-5 overall record during his tenure.

Boyd is maximizing the benefits of his early start by absorbing all he can from interactions with Luke Altmyer and the coaching staff at Illinois, preparing for the moment he gets called up to play.

“We’re working hard and it’s been really fun just soaking in everything,” Boyd told WCIA at Illini Night at Busch Stadium. “I’m like a sponge, you know, I’m looking up at guys like Luke Altmyer, guys have been there. I look at him as a vet, so I’m just following behind his footsteps, you know? And I know it’s going to be real beneficial for me in the future.”

Illinois’s 2025 quarterback room includes Altmyer, Boyd, Trey Petty and NIU transfer Ethan Hampton.