Running Back
Starter – Aidan Laughery
The Illinois running back room is also an impressive group. We have so many talented ball-carriers from top to bottom, and I think the player who is going to start for the Illini is Aidan Laughery.
Laughery is the returning leading rusher for the Illini, as he had 589 yards and four touchdowns last season. He also led the running back room with 6.1 yards per carry, which is an insane number. Without a doubt, if Laughery can hold that 6.1 yards per carry, he is going to be up there among the best running backs in college football.
With that being said, I think there is also a solid chance that Bret Bielema goes with a three-headed monster at running back. You will never know who is going to go off, but I think there is a chance that each of the top three running backs will get a pretty even timeshare in 2025.
- Co-1st String – Ca’Lil Valentine
One of the silver linings to some injuries last season was that Ca’Lil Valentine got more work. He was a four-star running back coming out of high school, so it was nice to see him get early snaps in his career. I think Valentine showed enough in 2024 with his 212 yards and 4.0 yards per carry to earn a co-first string role. Look for him to be a part of the three-headed monster.
- Co-1st String – Kaden Feagin
The last member of the three-headed monster is Kaden Feagin. He didn't see a ton of snaps last season due to injury, and he didn't get a chance to play in the Citrus Bowl. Think about that for a second. Illinois didn’t have Feagin and still managed 10 wins. Now healthy after missing a lot of time in 2024, Feagin should be able to build on his 306 yards and 4.6 yards per carry from last season.
- Depth – Aaron Ball, Corey Rashad
I don’t expect Illinois to use more than three running backs in 2025. If Bielema does get that itch, I would assume we go with one of the two freshmen that I have being redshirted.
- Redshirt – John Forster, Cedric Wyche II
Illinois pulled in a couple of high-level freshmen running backs from the class of 2025. I think both John Forster and Cedric Wyche II will have great careers at Illinois. Let’s save a year of eligibility, though.