Aidan Laughery
Aidan Laughery
Does a little of everything without one standout trait. He has spent four seasons in the Illinois backfield. In 2024 the league put his name on paper for the first time: All-Big Ten. One game to point at: 101 rush yds, 22 rec yds against Western Illinois — Week 1, 2025.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- recognition record
- game log
Career Arc
Trophy Case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
ALL-CONFERENCE
All-Conf mention (2024)
All-Big Ten
Coaching Lineage · 2022–2025
1 coachPlayed his entire career under Bret Bielema.
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
Splits & context
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Bret Bielema
Awards
Player Standing · 17 rungs
Tier 3 · RecognizedR09 · All-Conference HM / 2nd team
All-Conference HM / 2nd team. Conference recognition has started.
Trophy Case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
ALL-CONFERENCE
All-Conf mention (2024)
All-Big Ten
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 5 · 2025
W 34–32
vs USC
25 rush yds (7 car)
Edged out USC at home in a shootout.
How he plays
Play style
Plays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Illinois
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Running back · Illinois
Returning around him
- 52% of 2024 offensive production back (Solid continuity)
- 3 Illinois players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -8 net (19 in / 27 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Illinois · Last season: 9-4 (AP #23) · Talent rank #64 · 2026 recruiting class #24
DNA match
Player DNA
Balanced Back
Plays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to TJ Green’s 2022 season.
Matches TJ on
Differs from TJ on
Through 3 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Dylan Sampson’s path through Tennessee.
Matches Dylan on
As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Ajay Allen's senior season at Tulsa (2025).
Matches Ajay on
Differs from Ajay on
Player DNA
Players who play like Aidan Laughery
Development
Development Trajectory · rushing yards
2022–2025+4144%
Up 4144% from first season to most-recent.
Background
Pronunciation: LAW-fer-ree University of Illinois Graduate 2025 Junior Played in nine games with three starts at running back 75 carries for 382 yards and three touchdowns on the season Nine receptions for 54 yards on the season Team-high 77 rushing yards in the Music City Bowl victory over #23 T...