Chambana Sun

Illinois running backs Kaden Feagin and Aidan Laughery have been named to the preseason watch list for the 2025 Doak Walker Award, according to an announcement from the PwC SMU Athletic Forum on Tuesday.

The University of Illinois is among 27 programs nationwide with more than one player on this year’s Doak Walker Award watch list, which includes a total of 103 players. This marks Feagin’s second consecutive appearance on the list, while Laughery is being recognized for the first time.

The Doak Walker Award has been presented annually since 1989 to college football’s most outstanding running back. The award honors Doak Walker, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1948 and was a three-time All-American. Recipients are selected by a national committee made up of sports writers, broadcasters, former players, and past winners. Recent recipients include Ashton Jeanty from Boise State (2024), Ollie Gordon II from Oklahoma State (2023), and Bijan Robinson from Texas (2022). More information about the award can be found at the Doak Walker Award Website.

Feagin was named to Athlon’s Preseason All-Big Ten Third Team for 2025 and appeared on last year’s Doak Walker Award preseason watch list as well. As a true freshman in 2023, he earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention from coaches. In 2024, he played in five games before missing the rest of the season due to injury but averaged 68.6 rushing yards per game and scored touchdowns in each of Illinois’ first three games. He recorded a career-high 108 rushing yards in the opening week win over Eastern Illinois. Entering the 2025 season, Feagin has totaled 744 yards on 162 carries with five rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown across his first 14 career games.

Laughery played in all twelve games during the 2024 season, starting nine times including each of the final seven regular-season contests and participating in Illinois’ Cheez-It Citrus Bowl victory over South Carolina. He led his team with an average of 6.1 yards per carry as a sophomore last year. His performance against Northwestern at Wrigley Field included a career-best 172 rushing yards and three touchdowns on just twelve carries, earning him Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Laughery received top grades for that game—his offensive grade tied for second-highest among running backs nationally that season. Through his first twenty-two collegiate games entering this fall, Laughery has accumulated 679 rushing yards on 116 attempts with five touchdowns.

Several other Illinois players have also been named to various preseason award watch lists as of August 5: Luke Altmyer (Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year), Hank Beatty (Paul Hornung Award), J.C. Davis (Outland Trophy), Lane Hansen (Patrick Mannelly Award), Gabe Jacas (Lott IMPACT Trophy, Bronko Nagurski Trophy), Kenenna Odeluga (Allstate Wuerffel Trophy), and Xavier Scott (Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Paycom Jim Thorpe Award).

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