2024 Illinois football running back preseason confidence grades

Bret Bielema has had success building out the Illinois football running back room.

Throughout Bielema’s coaching history, he has had some great ball carriers. This has transferred over to his time with the Illini, as we have put Chase Brown in the NFL, and there are multiple potential NFL running backs on the roster right now.

As we near the 2024 campaign, it is time to look at what we have at running back this season.

Here are the 2024 Illinois football running back preseason confidence grades

Depth: 8.8/10

Heading into the 2024 season, I like the depth Illinois has built at the running back position. Touting the rock as the lead back is going to be Kaden Feagin.

Coming off a solid freshman campaign, Feagin is ready to handle the duties of a Big Ten starting running back. I think, if healthy, he has the ability to rush for over 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns this season.

Depth is more than just the starter, though. What Bielema has built in the running back room is impressive. My projected backup to Feagin is the lightning to his thunder with Aidan Laughery.

Laughery only saw 16 carries last season, but he led the entire team by averaging 5.1 yards per carry. I think Laughery has a chance to fill in the dual-threat running back role. He is a great third-down back for the Illini.

Third-string might be a battle this season, but it is a quality battle. Josh McCray has shown flashes but continuously gets hurt. Four-star freshman running back Ca’Lil Valentine has a chance to show he can contribute early on. Illinois has some great options from top to bottom, and that is why I am giving us an 8.8 out of 10 in depth.

Stability: 7.2/10

While depth is phenomenal in 2024, I think the stability of the running back position is a little less than ideal.

The fact Illinois has depth ups the stability number, but there are too many injury issues with the running back room. Feagin only saw action in nine games for the Illini last season. He injured his shoulder late in the season.

Laughery and McCray were also banged up in 2023. Laughery missed three games with an injury, and McCray only suited up in the first five games of the season before an injury took him out for the final seven contests.

It is hard to give Illinois a good stability grade when you don’t know who is going to be on the field each week.

Future: 9.5/10

I am excited about the future at running back. Illinois has put together quite the running back room, and as mentioned earlier, if we are healthy, our backfield is going to be great.

From top to bottom, this is one of the most talented running back rooms in recent memory. I am comfortable with any of the four running backs already mentioned starting at any given moment.

The great part about the Illinois running back room is that they are all pretty young. McCray is the oldest, but he is still technically a junior. Feagin is our starter, and he is only entering year two. Laughery is also a sophomore. Valentine, who I truly believe will be vying for snaps, is entering his first season in Champaign.

With so much young talent, how can’t you be optimistic about the Illinois running back situation? The future is so bright at this position.

Final Grade: 8.5/10

When you average out the three grades above, you get an 8.5 out of 10 for the Illinois running backs entering the 2024 campaign.

I feel like this grade is about right. That is a solid B trending toward a B+. Illinois has a lot of talent in the backfield, and I think we can lean on the running backs in tight situations this season.