Illinois WR Brayden Trimble Emerging Ahead of Big Ten Opener at Ohio State
The short version
- Illinois (2-1) plays at No. 7 Ohio State (2-1) Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Big Ten opener for both teams.
- Brayden Trimble has started all three games and is third on the team with nine catches.
- He had five receptions for 37 yards in a 48-10 win over Southern Illinois.
- Coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. says Trimble has the ability to be a very good Big Ten receiver.
- Collin Dixon leads the nation with seven touchdown receptions.
The sophomore from Mt. Zion is earning trust in the Illinois offense and says he's excited to visit Ohio Stadium, where the Illini face No. 7 Ohio State on Saturday.
Illinois wideout Brayden Trimble heads into Saturday's conference opener at seventh-ranked Ohio State with growing confidence and a bigger role. The sophomore, a Mt. Zion product whose hometown sits 56 miles from campus, has started all three games this season and ranks third on the team with nine receptions. Kickoff at Ohio Stadium is set for 11 a.m., with both the Illini and Buckeyes carrying 2-1 records.
Trimble called the visit to the Horseshoe a great opportunity and said he is excited for the environment. He is familiar with Ohio State star Jeremiah Smith, saying the standout is everywhere on film, though he does not intend to seek him out beforehand because he prefers to keep to himself and focus on winning.
His most productive outing came in last Saturday's 48-10 home victory over Southern Illinois, when he caught five passes for 37 yards. He described it as his first game catching the ball downfield and said it felt good to finally get going. Offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. called it Trimble's first real game and praised the detail on an early third-down route that resulted in a seven-yard catch and a first down.
Lunney added that the 6-foot-1, 195-pound receiver is physical and capable of becoming a very good Big Ten player, even if Trimble does not yet realize his ceiling. As a freshman in 2025, Trimble appeared in three games without a catch, which Lunney attributed to the typical adjustment period freshmen face.
Trimble takes particular pride in what he calls being a fierce, annoying blocker, and he benefits from the attention defenses pay to teammate Collin Dixon, who leads the nation with seven touchdown catches and is sixth in receiving yards with 367.
