CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois running back Kaden Feagin and tight end Cole Rusk have been named to the preseason watch list for the 2025 Comeback Player of the Year Award, released Tuesday by the College Sports Communicators in association with the Associated Press and the Fiesta Bowl.
COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Since 2018, the Comeback Player of the Year Award has recognized college football student-athletes for overcoming injury, illness, or other circumstances. At the conclusion of each season, in a vote by a panel of college football writers, editors, and sports information directors, three college football student-athletes are honored as Comeback Player of the Year Award winners at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
- Comeback Player of the Year Award Website
- Recent winners:
- 2024: Ike Larsen, DB, Utah State; Raheim Sanders, RB, South Carolina; Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville
- 2023: Blake Corum, RB, Michigan; Jacob Dobbs, LB, Holy Cross; Mike Hollins, RB, Virginia
- 2022: Laiatu Latu, LB, UCLA; Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington; Mohamed Ibrahim, RB, Minnesota
KADEN FEAGIN
- 2025 Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten Third Team
- 2025 Doak Walker Award Preseason Watch List
- Played in the first five games of 2024 and averaged 68.6 yards/game before missing the rest of the season due to injury
- Rushing touchdowns in each of Illinois' first three games of 2024
- Career-high 108 rushing yards on 16 carries in Week 1 victory over Eastern Illinois to open the 2024 season
- Combined for 744 yards on 162 carries (4.6 avg.) with five rushing touchdowns and one receiving score through first 14 games of his career entering the 2025 season
- 2023 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (coaches) as a true freshman
COLE RUSK
- Missed the 2024 season after suffering a knee injury during fall camp
- Named to 2024 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List prior to season-ending injury
- Transferred to Illinois from Murray State with two years of collegiate eligibility
- FCS All-America third-team selection and All-Missouri Valley Conference honorable mention in 2023 at Murray State
- Played in 11 games with 39 receptions for 507 yards and six touchdowns for the Racers
ILLINI ON WATCH LISTS (AS OF AUGUST 19)
- Luke Altmyer – Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year, Davey O'Brien Award, Manning Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
- Tanner Arkin – John Mackey Award
- Hank Beatty – Paul Hornung Award
- Bret Bielema – Dodd Trophy, Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
- J.C. Davis – Outland Trophy
- Kaden Feagin – Doak Walker Award, Comeback Player of the Year
- Lane Hansen – Patrick Mannelly Award
- Gabe Jacas – Lott IMPACT Trophy, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award
- Aidan Laughery – Doak Walker Award
- Kenenna Odeluga – Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, Allstate Wuerffel Trophy
- Cole Rusk – Comeback Player of the Year
- Xavier Scott – Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, Chuck Bednarik Award
