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Illinois football fans received bad news earlier this week as coach Bret Bielema announced prized transfer and expected starting receiver Jayshon Platt would be out for Week 1's game vs. the UAB Blazers at Gies Memorial Stadium, fueling speculation on potential replacements. 

One such player is Brayden Trimble, who came to Illinois as a three-star prospect last year and sat out the season as a redshirt.

On Tuesday, Bielema was quoted on his feelings about the young wide receiver who could be thrust into a bigger role with Platt on the mend. 

A Spring to Remember 

Bielema intimated that Trimble has gone through a long and well-measured training regiment since last spring that has put him in position to contribute this season.

He excitedly remarked about Trimble's ability to continue growing which began from the time he set foot on campus. 

"It was kind of like, holy cow, like where he's at now, if he hadn't done that last spring I don't think he would have been anywhere close to where he is, and now to come full circle, you know to be in a second fall camp of a lot of reps, like he, even though he's a rookie, a second year freshman that's in the building, his understanding, his ability, his desire," Bielema said to Carson Gourdie of Fox Illinois.

"He kind of plays with attitude, he's a kid I have to calm down a little bit here and there because he definitely plays with a chip on his shoulder."  

Finding the balance between playing with emotion and playing under control, disciplined and focused has been an ongoing challenge for Bielema's young wideout, but one he has relished heading into the first week of the season.

Trimble Adds Depth Amid Injury Challenges

The loss of Platt was a tough one as the Fighting Illini wide receiver has drawn rave reviews throughout camp and was expected to make big plays for Barry Lunney, Jr.'s offense in the early going.

With the Blazers headed to town and a road game against Big Ten favorite Ohio State less than a month away, Illinois' passing game has been placed under a white hot spotlight.

Trimble was ranked as the state of Illinois' ninth best player out of high school and was a standout track athlete and basketball player who held offers from Wisconsin, Auburn, Ole Miss, Nebraska, Texas A&M and other historically successful Division-I programs. 

At 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, Trimble has the size to work the middle of the field and the speed to run by defenders on the perimeter of the defense. 

His commitment to excelling at Illinois has been evident so far based on previous comments.

"It felt like the best fit for me," he said after committing to the Illini.

"It want to be a part of something special at the school." 

Trimble could get his first chance starting next Thursday, a development that would comprise the tip of an iceberg's worth of work since he first arrived in Champaign, Ill.  

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