Illinois starting running back Caden Feagin will miss Saturday’s game against Purdue due to injury, Illinois announced two hours before Saturday’s game with a Big Ten availability report. Illinois did not immediately specify the injury or the severity of the injury, but it is worth noting that he was sidelined despite Illinois having a week off last week. The Illini (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) are 23.5-point favorites over the Boilermakers (1-4, 0-2 Big Ten).
Why it matters: Feagin is the Illini’s leading rusher with 306 yards (4.6 ypc) and three touchdowns, and appears to be building momentum with back-to-back strong performances, rushing for 133 yards on 25 carries over the last two games total. A four-star prospect, Feagin is one of the Illini’s most talented playmakers.
What it means: Illinois redshirt junior Josh McCray, redshirt sophomore Aidan Loughery and redshirt freshman Kalil Valentine will get more opportunities against Purdue’s porous rushing defense, which ranks No. 13 in the country by Nearly 240 yards allowed per game.
McCray (103 yards, 4.1 ypc) gives the Illini a bruising physical back and can guard well, so he seems likely to get a lot of work. After an outstanding opener against Eastern Illinois, Loughery (119 yards, 6.3 ypc) saw his role reduced the last three games in part due to injury, totaling 40 yards on nine carries. But he’s a veteran who has earned praise from the Illini throughout the offseason. Valentine (106 yards, 5.3 rushing yards) showed promise with his quickness and quickness, but the freshman has just three carries (for 10 yards) through his first two Big Ten games. This could be an opportunity for the four-star prospect to get more runs and show what he’s got.
INJURY REPORT: Reserve OLB Daniel Brown will miss his fifth straight game to start the season, reserve OL Magnus Moller remains out and WR Ashton Hollins is out for the season with a knee injury.
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