Illinois Football: 5 observations from the Illini loss to Mississippi State

3. Illini are in good hands at running back

When Chase Brown decided to declare for the NFL Draft and not play in the bowl game, it hurt. I didn’t want to see him go, and I wanted him to come back for another season.

Even though it hurt me as an Illinois fan, I totally understood his decision. The future in the NFL is so bright for Brown, and I think he is going to be a top-five-round NFL Draft pick.

Another reason the hurt dwindled away is that I know Illinois is in good hands when it comes to the running back position. It is not like Brown departing would leave the cupboard bare. Illinois has a stable of running backs who will take the ball and run with it.

Reggie Love III got the call in the ReliaQuest Bowl and performed well. He finished the game with 12 carries for 53 yards. Each carry seemed like it could go for 30 yards. He had this solid performance with the offensive line not playing their best as well. I think Love is the lead-back heading into the 2023 campaign.

But Illinois’ running back room goes deeper than Love. In 2021, Josh McCray showed that he could be a reliable running back. His force and size make him a dangerous player on any possession. I think he is our No. 2 running back next season.

There is potential for other running backs to emerge from the Illinois depth chart as well. Aidan Laughery was our highest-rated recruit from the 2022 class, and he will have some say in carries in 2023. Jordan Anderson also came from the class of 2022, and he was a fringe top 1000 recruit.

Keeping an eye on 2023 recruit Kaden Feagin is probably a smart move. He is a top 350 recruit from his class, and at 6-foot-3, 221-pounds, Feagin might be able to make an impact in year one.

I will go on record and say that the Illinois offense could be pretty good in 2023. We have a ton of talent returning and joining the program. Look for the Illini to have one of the better offenses we have seen in recent years.