Junior running back Reggie Love III has entered the transfer portal and will finish his last year of eligibility in another uniform. Love posted his intentions to transfer today on X, formerly known as Twitter. This leaves Illinois with freshman running back Kaden Feagin as the likely starting back going into next season.
“After praying on it and discussing with my family, I have decided to enter my name in the transfer portal with my last year of eligibility left,” Love said in the social media announcement.
The St. Louis native finishes his Illinois career with a total of 242 carries and only having 1,066 yards while adding six touchdowns. This last season was poised to be a breakout year with the loss of former Illinois running back Chase Brown, but Love could not get the ground game going, only playing in eight of the 12 games this year.
Love finished the season with 116 touches and 567 yards, putting up four touchdowns. The starting running back job likely falls to Feagin, who was a surprise, stepping up for an injured Love and sophomore running back Josh McCray in multiple games this season.
The Atwood, Illinois native finished his freshman year with 95 touches for 438 yards and two touchdowns. Feagin’s best game came against the Wisconsin Badgers where he had 24 carries, 97 yards and a touchdown to top it off.
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Josh McCray is also on the roster and could be seen next year in a similar role to this year. McCray had 43 carries for 156 yards and two touchdowns. Due to injury, the Illini unfortunately only had McCray for five games this past season.
Despite losing Love, the Illini will look to build on the running back room they already have as Feagin goes into his sophomore year and McCray goes into his junior year.
