Veteran quarterback Katin Houser transferred to Illinois from East Carolina, where he put in a very successful 2025 season. Houser, who has good size and some dual threat ability, threw for 3,300 yards and 19 touchdowns (against just 6 interceptions) to go along with 193 rushing yards.
It’s his last season at the collegiate level, and it provides him an opportunity to improve his NFL Draft stock significantly. The Illini QB currently projects as a day three kind of prospect, but he could easily play his way into day two conversation, provided he adjusts well from ECU to Illinois well and thrives under his new offensive coordinator Barry Lunney.
At Big Ten Media Days, Houser was asked if he’s set any specific statistical goals for this upcoming season.
“Not really, I’ve done that in the past, and I don’t think it’s been good, because I kind of set expectations, and I don’t want to put pressure myself to do that,” Houser responded. “I just want to have a good year. I want to be a light for everybody on the team, and I want to be efficient. I don’t really set numbers or goals or anything like that.”
Kaitin Houser is a known commodity at the quarterback position, and that’s critical. The offensive line in front of him is a major question mark however. The unit, despite having a decent amount of talent, was not very good last season. At times, they were just plain bad.
Maybe it’s a good thing thing that they’ll be breaking in new starters at four of the five positions? (Right guard Brandon Henderson is the lone returnee). This is an overhaul/turnover season in Champaign. The secondary, led by Xavier Scott, Matthew Bailey and Juice Clarke, is a known entity.
They will be a strength. Running back looks pretty good too, but just about everything else, we don’t really know right now. The depth chart projection below is not official. It is someone’s opinion, not something released by the program or anything like that.
REVISED Illinois 2026-27 Football Outlook 🏈
Projected depth chart and schedule
How many games do you think the Fighting Illini will win this season?#illini #illinois #bigten #cfb #collegefootball pic.twitter.com/kV1oiKy2GC— The Paint Report (@ThePaintReport) August 6, 2026
If the Illini OL can keep Houser upright, he’ll perform, and it’ll be a good season. WHat’s the best way to protect him? Well, let’s take a page from the NFL. Legendary former Washington QB Joe Theismann discussed what the Commanders need to do in 2026, in order to protect their franchise QB Jayden Daniels.
“…more and more teams are opting out for play action to get the ball out of the quarterback’s hands, you can still take your shots,” Theismann said in an exclusive with Ratings.org “You’re getting people in the flat, you want to be able to run the football.
“Those are all elements that I think help the quarterback be protected in a positive way.”
Theismann continued on:
“Dropping back all the time and just letting people get free, free runners on either side, people coming up the middle, these defensive lines have become monsters…”
“So you got to try and slow them down somehow.
And the way you do that is, feature somewhat of a running game, and then flash the ball so that they have to take one step in the wrong direction gives you a little more time to get rid of it. But yeah, I think it will give them a chance to be able to protect himself more.”
That is good advice for head coach Bret Bielema, OC Lunney, and the rest of the staff.
Houser dsicussed how great his experience was at ECU, and just how much of a challenge it was to leave there.
“I mean it was really tough,” Houser said.
“I loved it there. I had a ton of friends there, and it was like a family for sure. I just felt like in my career I wanted to get developed, and my OC left and went to Ole Miss, and a lot of the players left. I just felt like it was time for a change.
“I wanted to go play against better competition, and it made sense for me to move and change. But I mean, yes, it was definitely tough leaving that place because that place was really good to me, and we had a lot of success there. And but now putting that in the past, looking forward to this year at Illinois”
He’s now back in the Big Ten, the same conference where his college football career began (at Michigan State). The oppostition will be much more formidable this year, than it was at ECU last year.
“It’s the best conference in America,” Houser said.
“And being able to play against the best competition, it’s just really humbling. And for me to be a part of it, it’s it’s really cool, really cool deal. And being a part of Illinois and being the quarterback and going playing some really good teams this year, it’s just exciting for sure.”
And it wouldn’t be Big Ten Media Days, or an Illini football media opp, without a question about the new video board, which is the largest in all of college football.
Illinois’ new 17,000 square foot scoreboard is the largest in College Football 👀 pic.twitter.com/VMSCaX8WBW
— Action Network Colleges (@ActionColleges) August 10, 2026
“We went out through there a little bit, and it’s it’s crazy,” said Houser in response to a reporter’s question on this. “It’s awesome.”
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, Ratings and RG. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Washington Post.