Iowa Atmosphere Impressing ’23 IL Athlete Kaden Feagin
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Kaden Feagin felt the excitement at Iowa during his two campus visits this season. So has his mom, Jennifer Feagin.
“She likes the program a lot, especially after the Penn State game (on Oct. 9),” Kaden told HF. “She was kind of in awe of the game-day atmosphere.”
The Hawkeye environment is impressing Kaden as well.
“The fans and their passion for the program has definitely stood out to me the most. Knowing that Iowa doesn’t have a pro team, it’s like the university is the pro team, which is really cool,” he said.
Iowa offered Feagin (6-3, 220) a scholarship in June after he camped there. The 2023 Athlete visited campus again a month later. He was back there for the Penn State game and again Saturday, when the Hawkeyes knocked off Illinois, 33-23.
“(Hawkeye assistant) coach (George) Barnett has been recruiting me hard ever since the first time I went to Iowa for the camp in the summer. We have a very good relationship,” Feagin said.
The Rivals’ 4-Star from Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammonds (IL) High also has visited Illinois (twice), Notre Dame and Wisconsin this season. Those programs along with Michigan, Missouri, Purdue and Rutgers have offered him scholarships.
Feagin is being recruited as an athlete. He could end up at playing several different positions at the next level. He’s focusing on the offensive backfield when he watches the Hawkeyes.
“I noticed they like to run the ball a lot, which I like a lot as a running back,” he said.
A multi-sport standout, Feagin finished second in the Class 1A State Track Meet long jump. He averaged 12.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists as a sophomore on the varsity basketball team.
As a sophomore in a six-game spring ’21 season, Feagin earned first-team Class 1A all-state honors from the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association as a running back/linebacker. He played in five contests, racking up 660 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground with 33 tackles and three sacks on defense.
Like many prep athletes who had their recruiting process stalled by the pandemic, Feagin is taking a deliberate approach.
“I feel like there’s still more to come, but I’m pretty far along,” he said.
Will the exercise include another stop at Iowa?
“Yes, definitely. I’m not completely sure when though,” he said.