With a highly anticipated season on the horizon for the Illinois football team, 2025 will see many players with much to gain, in both overall draft position and program trust.
One player with the most to gain from this season has to be quarterback Luke Altmyer. Looking to step up from a strong 2024 campaign, the Illini gunslinger could easily rise up draft boards quickly if his progression continues.
Being the face of a winning program that has a chance to make the College Football Playoff would do wonders. Altmyer proving to scouts that he is an NFL-caliber quarterback by refining his skills and showing he can be the key contributor in this Illinois offense makes 2025 a year in which he can gain a lot.
Another player who has a lot to gain this season is outside linebacker Gabe Jacas. Coming off a season in which he accrued 74 tackles and 8 sacks, which led the team across 13 games, his situation is very similar to Altmyer’s.
Jacas was put on the radar of many scouts last season with his strong play, and will look to build off of last year to boost himself even higher in his draft rankings. He arguably has more to gain than Altmyer, as he has a chance to likely get drafted higher in 2026. Jacas has the skillset of a first-round talent, but some way-too-early mock drafts have him outside that range.
With a solid season as the leader on the defensive line for the Illini, Jacas could quickly shoot up the rankings and become the second first round pick in the Bielema era.
One final player with a lot to gain is running back Kaden Feagin. While it is still too early for him to think about the draft, with a successful season, he could gain a lot in the eyes of the coaching staff.
After his 2024 campaign was cut short five games into the season due to hip surgery, 2025 could be a chance for Feagin to reinsert himself as a key contributor to the Illinois run game.
Aidan Laughery projects to be the starting back, but a healthy, complete season in which Feagin can produce at the rate he has shown when he is healthy would go a long way in earning back the trust from the coaches.
With eligibility still remaining after this season, that is extremely important for the longevity and prominence Feagin will have on this team.
Given the high expectations and national coverage Illinois has garnered as of late, next season will provide a plethora of opportunities for these players.