CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — With August already upon us and fall camp getting started, it’s safe to say that football is in the air in Champaign.
The Illini take the field for their season opener at the end of this month, and an instrumental part of their success is going to be their running back room.
Aidan Laughery, one-third of Illinois’s three-headed monster at the RB position, met with the media after the first day of fall camp, exuding confidence and excitement for the upcoming season.
With expectations
being high for both his position group and the team in general, Laughery emphasized the importance of staying grounded amidst the noise.
“Those things are great and, you know, you hear them, but you just go to work every day to prove that those things are right,” Laughery said.
Laughery finished last season with a solid stat line — rushing for 589 yards on 97 carries, while also finding the end zone four times.
But the bigger story surrounding his 2024-25 season was his explosion in production in the team’s final games.
In the Illini’s win over Northwestern to close out their pre-bowl schedule, Laughery rushed for a whopping 172 yards and three touchdowns, both career highs.
Aidan Laughery had a performance to remember at Wrigley Field
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) December 2, 2024
The @IlliniFootball RB rushed for a career-best 172 yards and 3 TDs in the win over Northwestern #B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/LyHx519ygj
Then, in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, he helped Illinois take down South Carolina by rushing for 67 yards and catching two passes.
When asked about how it felt to go out there and get over the hump by having that career game, Laughery was honest.
“You know, a sense of relief for me personally,” Laughery said. “Just gratitude to my teammates for making it possible, gratitude to my coaches for pouring into me so that moment could become a reality.”
Now, he’s entering his junior season with a sense of confidence and a chance to keep putting up big-time numbers, but he won’t be doing it alone.
In the Illini backfield, Laughery will be primarily splitting time with two other backs in junior Kaden Feagin and sophomore Ca’Lil Valentine, each of whom will be bringing something unique to the table in 2025-26.
After recovering from a season-ending hip injury that took place in October of last year, Feagin will have the opportunity to come back with a vengeance. As a 6’3, 250-pound rusher, he’s able to run through defenders and move the chains with ease.
Following a decent freshman season, Valentine is sure to bring a big burst of energy and speed to this year’s rushing attack, and look out for him in the passing game as well.
Having three returners at the RB position is something that could have a big impact on the Illinois offensive outlook. But as for Laughery, he’s just looking forward to getting to work and improving with his guys.
“It’s good to have returning experience,” Laughery said with a smile. “Really excited for those guys, for us as a group to continue to grow, and get rolling and get better every single day.”
