Kaden Feagin felt all the emotions on Illinois's return to Memorial Stadium

After just five weeks of the 2024 season, Illinois running back Kaden Feagin was devastatingly sidelined with a hip injury that subsequently needed season-ending surgery.

Feagin had already earned over 300 rushing yards alongside three touchdowns before he was injured, and ahead of the 2025 season, he was more ready than ever to get back to the game he loves.

When the Illinois Fighting Illini kicked off its season last Saturday, Feagin couldn't contain the overwhelming joy that he felt upon his return to Memorial Stadium and everything that comes with a home game.

"It felt really good, just being out there with my teammates, just being grateful," Feagin said. "Coming out of the tunnel, hearing all the people screaming, it was amazing."

In the season opener, Feagin ran for 74 yards and one touchdown, only trailing fellow junior running back Aidan Laughery for rushing yards. Both running backs are already on pace to blow past their previous season totals.

"Taking it day by day, really. Looking at the mistakes I made last game and seeing mistakes I made at practice, and just keep building on it," Feagin said about his goal to continue improving. "Eventually it's gonna make me into a better player."

Both Feagin and Laughery are from central Illinois, Feagin growing up in Atwood, which is just 43 minutes from Illinois's campus in Champaign, and Laughery growing up in Gibson City, which is 40 minutes in the opposite direction.

"We came here for the same reason: to be homegrown and stay home," Laughery said about his in-state teammate. "It's special... This whole team works so hard. Just to go out there in Week 1 and have some success is awesome, and we're looking to carry it forward."

Illinois will visit the Duke Blue Devils in its second game of the season. The Fighting Illini and Blue Devils will kick off at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 6, from Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, NC.