Illinois’ 2026 offense may end up built around a familiar face in a very different spot. Kaden Feagin, once recruited to Champaign as a running back and Illinois’ starter at the position to open last season, has officially made the jump to tight end after outgrowing the backfield.
The move makes sense on paper and, according to Illinois, it has already started to pay off. Feagin has kept adding weight year after year - mostly muscle - but the toll of carrying such a big frame as a runner has also shown up in the injury column. The shift to tight end could help with durability and, down the line, boost his value as a pro prospect.
At 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, Feagin brings a rare mix of size, speed and power to the position. He’s already flashed as a receiver, including a highlight against Minnesota, but the bigger question is how quickly he can become a dependable all-around tight end.
The passing-game learning curve is real: new alignments, new techniques, route trees and responsibilities all come with the territory. Even so, his explosiveness after the catch and through contact gives Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. and transfer quarterback Katin Houser a weapon worth developing.
The toughest adjustment, by Feagin’s own admission, is blocking. That’s the part that could ultimately define how high he climbs at the position.
He has talked about needing to improve in pass protection and about consistently getting his pad level down and planting his feet when it’s time to block. Taking on defensive ends snap after snap is a different grind than occasional backfield contact, and staying sharp play after play will be a major mental test too.
Illinois believes he has the frame, strength and grit to handle it.
There’s a little program lore wrapped up in this move, too. Feagin reportedly picked Illinois because Bret Bielema insisted he was a running back - not a linebacker, not a tight end - and wanted no one in the program floating any other ideas.
In three seasons in the backfield, Feagin showed real usefulness, especially in short-yardage and goal-line work. Across 284 carries, he posted 4.4 yards per carry and scored 12 touchdowns.
He also dealt with injury issues along the way, especially early in his college career. In 2025, Aidan Laughery’s presence and Ca’Lil Valentine’s emergence may have cut into his workload, but it also looked like Illinois was managing him carefully in a committee to keep him fresh and upright.
Illinois tight ends coach Jared Elliott said the transition has gone smoothly and pointed to Feagin’s background as a runner as a major asset.
"I think Kaden's gonna give us a lot of flexibility and the ability to use him from a creative standpoint because of his background playing in the backfield. He understands protections, he understands the run schemes, he has a big-picture understanding of our passing game.
The transition has been really smooth. I've been really pleased."
If Feagin stays healthy, he has a strong chance to log more snaps than any other Illinois tight end this season. Christian Abney could still get starts - maybe plenty of them - but the hope is that Feagin blocks well enough to stay on the field in most situations. Early indications from the coaching staff have been positive.
That opens up plenty of possibilities for Lunney. Feagin could line up attached to the tackle, split out wide, work from the backfield or even take a few carries.
His old running back experience gives Illinois another layer of flexibility, whether as a threat or a decoy. If the blocking becomes serviceable and the route running comes along even a little, Feagin could settle into a major role and essentially take over Hank Beatty’s spot as Weapon X in the Illini offense.
In Other News...
Illinois Just Doubled Down On A Key Part Of Its Identity
Illinois is keeping one of the defining pieces of its brand in place for the long haul, signing an extension with Nike that will run the athletic partnership through 2033. The relationship dates back to 1995 and has become woven into the day-to-day identity of Illini athletics, with Nike supplying exclusive footwear, apparel and equipment across all varsity sports.
For Josh Whitman, the agreement reinforces a partnership that already stretches across 21 varsity teams and 450 student-athletes. In an era when schools are constantly sorting out what matters most to their competitive and commercial footing, Illinois has chosen continuity here, locking in a familiar presence that will continue to shape how the program looks and feels for years to come. [Read more 🡒]
Luke Altmyer Still Has A Real NFL Path Illinois Fans Should Watch
Luke Altmyers first NFL stop did not end with an active-roster job, but it also did not end with the door closing. After signing with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted quarterback, he was waived during final roster cuts and then brought back on the practice squad, giving him a place to keep developing inside one of the leagues more stable quarterback rooms.
Detroits decision to add Josh Dobbs as a more experienced backup made the path to the 53-man roster a tougher one for Altmyer, but the practice squad still offers a real foothold. Illinois fans have seen this route before with former quarterback Tommy DeVito, who began on an NFL practice squad and has since moved forward in his career, a reminder that the first roster decision is not always the final word. [Read more 🡒]
Bielemas Biggest Illinois Bet Could Redefine The Illini Defense
Illinois footballs latest staff move comes with plenty of intrigue, as Bret Bielema has turned to Bobby Hauck to run the defense. Hauck arrives with a long coaching rsum that includes 19 years as a head coach, and he brings a scheme shaped by the 3-3-5 approach that has become a familiar calling card in modern college football.
For Illinois, the hire feels bigger than a standard coordinator change. Haucks background suggests a different kind of defensive identity could be taking shape, one that may influence how the Illini line up, recruit and develop over the next few seasons. Bielema has made a bet on experience here, and the ripple effects could stretch well beyond the first fall camp. [Read more 🡒]