Illinois Football: Aidan Laughery’s immediate impact on the Illini
By Zain Bando
What will Aidan Laughery bring to the Illinois football program in 2022 at the running back and free safety positions?
Laughery became one of Illinois’ newest commitments for the class of 2022. The football program has continued to build a significant presence with in-state recruits.
Attending Gibson City High School in Gibson City, IL, Laughery is no exception to the new-found wave of an in-state push that head coach Bret Bielema is looking to instill in a program that is still searching for a long-standing identity.
The 5-foot-11, 186-pound two-way athlete made his commitment official on July 14. He had taken two official visits to Washington State and Iowa, among others, prior to making a final decision.
“After countless days and nights of thought, I’d like to announce that I am 110 percent committed to The University of Illinois,” Laughery wrote.
What will Aidan Laughery’s early impact be on the Illinois football team?
At press time, the tweet has 216 retweets and 2,253 likes, as word of Laughery’s new football and academic home continues to grow.
Unlike other states, Illinois opted to play a shortened spring football season in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Gibson City was one of the teams impacted by the sudden change, and so was Laughery himself. Instead of transferring to an out-of-state school, he stuck with his current system and teammates.
The decision, though, would ultimately benefit the future Illini commit. He wound up in four games on both offense and defense, turning in some stellar performances along the way.
Check out his highlight packages below.
And, of course, his best plays at free safety.
Laughery’s squad finished 2-2 overall during the shortened campaign, but both wins featured
that saw the Falcons put up 40 and 41 points respectively.
Fans should be excited about the in-state product. While he may not compete against the same competition as the suburban schools, he does have a local flair and the close proximity to Champaign is an added bonus. Expect Laughery to fit right in a year from now if all stays on track.