Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

August 15, 2022

(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)

Kaden Feagin (right), a 2023 four-star prospect from Arthur, Ill., made his decision public to verbally commit to Illinois on March 23, 2022 with his mother Jennifer (left) both revealing orange and blue Illini shirts underneath their jackets during his announcement at the Arthur High School gymnasium. Matt Stevens/IlliniGuys

Bret Bielema knows power football and knows running backs. Kaden Feagin is likely to play linebacker in college but that was also the plan for Wisconsin’s Braelon Allen and look at him now. So, let’s say Feagin ends up on offense as a back? How would he stack up with the running backs in the Big Ten in the 2023 class? Very well.

1. Mark Fletcher, Ohio State
2. Kedrick Reescano, Michigan State
3. Kendrick Raphael, Iowa
4. Kaden Feagin, Illinois
5. Benjamin Hall, Michigan
6. Jaquez Keys, Wisconsin
7. Marquese Williams, Minnesota
8. Cole Cabana, Michigan
9. London Montgomery, Penn State
10. Keyjuan Brown, Purdue

Feagin is massive and athletic and is a one cut back who would wear down opponents. He’s not as naturally athletic or fast as Allen, but he’s not far off either. He won’t make you miss as much as the others higher on this list but he will run you over and his footwork is underrated. He lacks a natural understanding of finding the right hole at this moment but in a simple offensive scheme he could be nasty as a power back who could carry the ball 20 times or more.

I still like him better on defense as more of a natural linebacker but Bielema might just want to see what he has on offense.