CHAMPAIGN - Aidan Laughery’s path to being named an Illini captain has been anything but smooth, and his teammates just put the exclamation point on it.
The Illinois running back was voted one of six team captains for his fifth and final season, a recognition that carries real weight for a player who has dealt with injuries early in his career, navigated multiple changes at running backs coach and was one of Bret Bielema’s first in-state commitments.
For Laughery, the moment was supposed to start with a phone call home. It took a little work.
Mary and Greg Laughery were out for an evening golf cart ride with their dog around Gibson City, which made Aidan’s first attempt to reach them a miss. Mary didn’t see the call come through.
Greg’s phone connected to the cart’s Bluetooth system, but without any contact information attached. So the first people he meant to tell were, for the moment, unreachable.
Eventually, the call got through, and Laughery was able to pass along the news that he had been voted a captain by his peers.
He did, however, get the family news moving in a different direction first: his brother, Andrew, actually heard it before his parents did as Aidan tried to get in touch.
It was a fitting little wrinkle for a player whose rise has been built on persistence. Through the setbacks and the changes, Laughery kept showing up. Now his teammates have answered by putting him in one of the program’s most visible leadership roles.
“He just kept working that hard”
In Other News...
Illinois Just Sent A Message In A Battle Fans Know Too Well
Illinois landed another important piece of its in-state recruiting push when Mason Martin, the top-ranked prospect in Illinois for the 2027 class, committed to the program out of Neuqua Valley High School. The four-star guard joins a growing list of promising names tied to the Fighting Illini, and his decision matters in a state where Illinois has too often watched elite local talent leave for other schools.
The broader message is bigger than one commitment. With Martin in the fold, along with Quentin Kitt already in the mix and future target Brady Pettigrew on the radar, Illinois is starting to build the kind of momentum that can reshape how fans view the programs recruiting base. For a team that has spent years trying to close the gap in battles for homegrown stars, this kind of run can change the tone around the roster, the culture and the way supporters see the programs future. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Momentum Is Building In One Place Fans Will Notice
Illinois basketball keeps adding to the kind of offseason buzz that tends to matter when the recruiting calendar starts turning. The Illini have landed an official visit from five-star 2027 small forward Moussa Kamissoko, giving them a third confirmed five-star visitor in the class and another sign that the staff is staying active with elite talent while the future roster picture comes into focus.
There is plenty else for Illinois fans to track, too. The 2026-27 non-conference schedule is now finalized and brings a slate of high-major opponents and NCAA Tournament teams, while senior defensive back Matthew Bailey has earned a spot on the 2026 Chuck Bednarik Award watch list, a national nod for one of the defense's top players. The combination of recruiting momentum, a demanding schedule and individual recognition gives the program a busy look across multiple fronts. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Recruiting Momentum Just Put Brad Underwood On The Spot
Illinois basketball has kept its foot on the gas in recruiting, and the latest wave of official visits shows just how much momentum Brad Underwoods program is carrying into the next few cycles. A group of five-star prospects from the classes of 2027 and 2028 has scheduled time in Champaign, including Moussa Kamissoko, NaVorro Bowman Jr., Dylan Betts, Brady Pettigrew and Darius Wabbington, giving Illinois a chance to stay in the conversation with some of the countrys most sought-after young talent.
Kamissoko is the most intriguing name in the group, a 6-foot-7 wing whose defensive presence and scoring pop have made him a major target, and Illinois is one of nine official visits on his calendar. The timing matters too, because the Illinis recent Final Four run appears to have helped not just with future recruiting, but with player retention as well, raising the standard for what Underwood is expected to turn this surge into next. [Read more 🡒]