2026 Football Roster
Jersey Number 21
Aidan Laughery
- Position:
- RB
- Class:
- Senior
- Height:
- 5-11
- Weight:
- 200
- Major:
- Management
- Hometown:
- Gibson City, Ill.
- High School:
- GCMS
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 Tennessee (12/30/25)
- Nine carries for 101 yards and two rushing touchdowns in Illinois Week 1 victory over Western Illinois (8/29/25)
2024 Sophomore
- Academic All-Big Ten
- Played in all 13 games on the season
- Rushed 16 times for 67 yards in Cheez-It Citrus Bowl win over No. 14 South Carolina (12/31/24)
- Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week after rushing 12 times for a career-best 172 yards and career-high three touchdowns in win at Wrigley Field against Northwestern (11/30/24)
- 172-yard game at Wrigley Field was his first career 100-yard game
- Wrigley Field game was the first multi-score game of his career, as all three touchdowns were over 30 yards, including a career-long 64-yarder in the third quarter
- No. 1-graded running back according to PFF (94.8 OFF, 91.9 RUN) in win at Northwestern (11/30/24), which tied for second-highest offense grade and eighth-highest rushing grade for a running back in a game this season
- Rushed six times for 26 yards and his first touchdown of the season, and caught one pass for five yards in win at Rutgers (11/23/24)
- Started first game of his career in season-opener vs. Eastern Illinois (8/29/24)
2023 Redshirt Freshman
- Played in nine games
- Missed three games with an injury
- Tallied first rushing TD of his career to go along with 23 yards on three carries vs. FAU (9/23/23)
- Returned first kickoff of his career (17 yards) vs. Toledo (9/2/23)
2022 Freshman
- Played in one game and redshirted the season
- Made his Illinois debut against Chattanooga 9/22/22
- Three carries for nine yards on the season
High School
- Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, On3, and Rivals
- Position ranks: #37 (On3), #42 (247), #51 (Rivals), #73 (ESPN)
- State ranks: #11 (247), #12 (ESPN), #14 (Rivals), #17 (On3)
- Played for head coach Mike Allen at GCMS
- Played with fellow Illini Bryce Barnes in high school, leading GCMS to the IHSA 2A state title
- Four-year letterwinner
- Two-time all-conference
- Also ran track in high school
- Offers included Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota, Rutgers, and Washington State
Personal
- Born October 1, 2003
- Son of Mary and Greg Laughery
- One brother, Andrew
- Chose Illinois because, “The family culture and energy. When you know everybody is working at a collective goal for the same purpose and with the same drive you are, you are bound for success. It was an easy choice for me with how awesome the staff is.”
- Graduated from the University of Illinois in August 2025 with a degree in recreation, sport, & tourism
- Majoring in management (Master's)
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 3/5/26
Thursday, March 05
Illinois Football | Bobby Hauck Introductory Press Conference 2/12/26
Thursday, February 12
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 2/4/26
Thursday, February 05
Illinois Football | Xavier Scott Return Announcement Press Conference Press Conference 1/21/26
Wednesday, January 21
