Area players come up big for Bielema's team

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Dec. 30—NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Where would Illinois football be in 2025 without the contributions from central Illinois players?

Not 8-4 and meeting an SEC school in the Music City Bowl. That's for sure.

Bret Bielema's pledge to recruit central Illinois when he became the Illini coach at the beginning of this decade has paid off big time. The proof is in the production, from Rochester's Hank Beatty, Atwood's Kaden Feagin and Gibson City's Aidan Laughery.

The receiver (Beatty) and two running backs (Feagin and Laughery) have combined for 1,068 receiving yards and 845 rushing yards … so far.

They are responsible for 11 touchdowns on the ground and five on catches.

And they have one more chance to add to the totals with a game Tuesday against Tennessee at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn.

So, yes, 1,913 yards from scrimmage is getting it done. And that doesn't include Beatty's 213 yards on punt returns … with one touchdown.

Their high school coaches are thrilled with their college efforts. And proud of them as both players and people.

"They've represented central Illinois so good," Rochester coach Derek Leonard said. "They had a lot of (team) success while it's happening."

Leonard saw the work Beatty put in and watched it pay off.

"It went Hank's way," Leonard said. "He's everything I expected him to be. I thought maybe a little bit earlier, but it's just kind of how it fell and who was in front of him."

Beatty is third in the Big Ten with 64 catches and sixth in the league with 826 receiving yards. Great work for a guy considered, by some, too small at only 5 feet, 11 inches and 185 pounds.

Leonard knew Beatty would excel in college when given a chance.

"This is not a business where you can ever guarantee anything, but he was a close to a sure thing as I thought I've ever had," Leonard said. "He's a first-class kid, and he's earned everything he's got."

Leonard knows his stuff. His Rochester teams have won nine state titles.

Beatty's efforts at Illinois make it easier the next time a player dominates in high school without all the measurables.

"There's no question," Leonard said. "It might be somewhere else, a small-town kid. (Bielema) has had three kids that have really worked out well."

Beatty handled his business the right way.

"He's done it in such a good manner," Leonard said. "He's such a great kid and academically, as a person, how he handled the media, how he has handled itself and then just been a great football player. It's going to open it up for more people to come into central Illinois."

Leonard is thinking about making the trip to Nashville for Beatty's last game. He has watched him in person a handful of times during his career, but didn't see him in 2025.

"We're debating," Leonard said.

It is 356 miles from Rochester to Nashville.

Leonard is hoping to watch Beatty next year in the NFL.

"He checks every box, especially for the NFL, even more than college," Leonard said. "I think he can be on every special team. He can be a great receiver. He's going to know the playbook. He's not going to be any trouble. He's going to be a kid (drafted) anywhere from the fifth to the seventh round.

"I really believe he's going to make it, and he's going to be great for somebody."

Mr. Touchdown

Feagin leads Illinois in 2025 with nine scores, seven on the ground and two on catches.

Ryan Jefferson, Feagin's coach at Atwood-Hammond-Arthur-Lovington, was hopeful his star player would be a hit in the Big Ten.

"When he first said he was going to be going to Illinois, we knew all this stuff could happen, but we didn't know if he'd play right away," Jefferson said. "Just to see him go down to Florida last year (for the Citrus Bowl) and getting to play in Nashville on a big stage is pretty cool."

Feagin has remained close to Jefferson and the ALAH program.

The team spent quality time with its former star during the Knights' recent prep playoff run to the Class 2A state semifinals. Of course, Feagin came to a game.

"I can't give him enough credit for sacrificing to come down, knowing that people are going to want to talk to him and take pictures," Jefferson said. "He just knows it's all about the kids and the community. He wants to give back. It's really cool to see."

Jefferson will be with his family on Tuesday, tuning in to ESPN to watch Feagin at Nissan Stadium.

"Cheering on Illinois," Jefferson said.

Jefferson is all for the dose of central Illinois talent on Bielema's roster.

"I think it's great for Illinois high school football," he said. "Just the fact that high school kids have those guys to look up to. They make it a dream to pursue."

Jefferson appreciates the Illinois staff's focus on area players.

"I think they are staying true to their mission to keep kids in-state," Jefferson said.

Jefferson's sons, 8-year-old Clay and 6-year-old Coby, are both Feagin fans.

"They sport the Kaden Feagin apparel at school," Jefferson said. "They've got some sweatshirts that have his picture on it. They love that."

On the way

Mike Allen, who coached Laughery at Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley, is planning to make the trip to the Music City Bowl. His father-in-law lives 90 minutes from the Tennessee capital city in Crossville, Tenn.

He will travel with son Keegan and wife Jenny.

Allen, who retired in 2021 after more than two decades as the GCMS coach, is thrilled to see Laughery in the Big Ten.

"As a community, as a coaching staff, we're so proud of him," Allen said. "Did we expect this? Yeah, we knew he had the talent. Coach Bielema gave him a chance. That's big."

To illustrate Laughery's toughness, Allen tells the story from Laughery's freshman year at GCMS when the player entered games with the Falcons way ahead.

"I pulled him aside and said, 'I know you want to run the ball. The only chance you're going to get is between tackles,'" Allen said. "He goes, 'Coach, I love that. I love between tackles. I'm not afraid of it. Let's go.'"

The mentality has served him well in college.

"They run a lot between tackles at the UI," Allen said. "He's going to get banged up. That's the nature of the game."

As much as Allen values Laughery on the field, he likes him even more away from it.

"When you meet Aidan and talk to him, you realize how great a kid he is right away," Allen said. "Regardless of football."

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