Illinois’ offense is changing fast, but one of the biggest surprises in Champaign isn’t at quarterback or wide receiver. It’s at tight end.
Bret Bielema said on "The Illinois Script" show that the Illini’s depth at tight end, along with running back, stands out as one of the strongest he has had since arriving in December 2020.
“I think our running back room and tight end room probably have as much depth as we’ve ever had since I’ve been here,” Bielema said on "The Illinois Script" show.
Running back wasn’t the shocking part of that assessment. Illinois can point to Ca’Lil Valentine, Aidan Laughery and Jordan Anderson as key pieces in that group.
Tight end, though, looked far less settled after last season. Cole Rusk led Illinois tight ends in receiving in 2025 with 19 catches for 217 yards and a touchdown before transferring to Arizona.
Tanner Arkin did his damage mostly as a blocker and is now with the New England Patriots. No other Illini tight end had more than one reception last season, and Illinois did not land a major transfer splash at the position.
Instead, the room’s biggest development has come from inside the building, with former running back Kaden Feagin moving into the tight end mix.
“I think [Kaden Feagin] and Jared Elliott, our tight ends coach, have really developed a good relationship, a good bond,” Bielema said. “And he’s literally gotten better every day.
Christian Abney is leap years ahead of where he was a year ago. I think one of the great effects of staff transition - Jared Elliott has come in and really owned that tight end room.
“And Davin Stoffel, who played for us a year ago, didn’t play a lot, had some injuries in the spring. Those three guys - Kaden, Davin and Christian - I think are really going to formulate. And then we’ve got a young freshman, Will Vala, who has been really impressive in fall camp.”
That kind of growth matters even more because Illinois is in the middle of major offensive turnover. Katin Houser is set to make his official Illini debut Thursday at quarterback.
The offensive line brings back only one starter from 2025. The wide receiver group has lost four of its top six players from last season in reception yards.
That leaves running back and tight end as the most familiar parts of the offense, even if the tight end spot is still a relative unknown compared with the established skill positions.
Feagin has never played tight end before, so there’s still a learning curve there. But Bielema’s view is clear: the group already looks deeper than expected, and deeper than it has at any point since he took over.
If that holds, it could matter in a big way for Houser. A productive tight end room would give him more targets and give Barry Lunney Jr. another layer to work with on offense, especially with Feagin in the mix.
Just as important, that group could help Illinois in the trenches - keeping Houser protected and adding force to the run game. According to Bielema, that possibility is very much on the table.
In Other News...
Illinois Suddenly Have A Frontcourt Concern Fans Need To Watch
The early offseason buzz around the 2027 NBA Draft has already taken a hit, and Illinois is right in the middle of the ripple effect. Mirkovic underwent foot surgery, and with no return timetable, it adds another layer of uncertainty for a frontcourt that was already worth monitoring as the Illini map out the next stretch of roster planning and development.
Across the Big Ten, the injury news has changed the conversation for several programs, with Michigans Brandon McCoy set to miss the 2026-27 season after an ACL injury and Iowa States Killyan Toure expected back in January after shoulder surgery. For Illinois, though, Mirkovics recovery timeline is the one that matters most, because the unanswered question is not just when he returns, but what kind of role he can still fill once he does. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Just Put A Massive 2027 Recruiting Prize In Play
Illinois basketball has been aggressive on the recruiting trail for its 2027 class, and the latest move only adds to the buzz. The Illini have extended a scholarship offer to five-star forward Bentley Lusakueno, who is lining up official visits to Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Illinois and Iowa, giving Brad Underwoods staff another elite target to work with as it tries to keep building on an already strong class.
The timing matters because Illinois is already sitting with the No. 5 recruiting class for 2027, backed by two commitments and a slate of high-profile visits still to come. Lusakueno is hardly the only name in the mix, either, with other five-star prospects like Brady Pettigrew also expected to take official visits, and there is some lingering chatter around potential reclassifications that could further reshape the board before this cycle settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Is Sending A Clear Message With Its Massive Stadium Upgrade
Illinois is putting a very public stamp on its latest push to raise the profile of the program, and the centerpiece is impossible to miss. When the renovated Gies Memorial Stadium opens with the largest jumbotron in college football history, it will do more than just improve the game-day experience. The board measures more than 17,300 square feet and packs 30 million pixels, making it a literal oversized sign of how far the school wants its football presence to reach.
The $20.94 million project was funded mostly by a donation from Larry Gies, whose gift already reshaped the venue by putting his name on the stadium. Now the program is set to top a record previously held by Auburn, giving Illinois a new claim beyond the scoreboard itself. It is the kind of upgrade that says the department wants recruits, fans and rivals to notice what is being built in Champaign. [Read more 🡒]