CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In 2011, a young high school recruit, Travis Frederick, opted to join the Wisconsin Badgers football program for spring ball.
He graduated from high school early, packed his bags, and left his hometown. Although he did go back for prom, he got a head start on his college football career by joining then-Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema and his staff to hit the ground running in Madison ahead of football season.
“[Frederick] was kind of the first one; it takes a special kind of kid to do this,” Bielema said.
Frederick went on to be selected in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft and had a seven-year NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys.
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
It’s evidence that the college football season never really ends — it is more similar to a cycle. And it is clear where the cycle begins: in February and March with spring ball.
QB Carson Boyd, WR Brayden Trimble, DB Xania Scott, and LB Grant Beerman are four of 12 freshmen who opted to join the program in the spring.
Trimble’s early transition to Illinois came with some resistance, especially from his mother.
“She did not want Brayden to be here,” said Bielema, now Illinois’ head coach. “She wanted to enjoy that last semester with her son at home, and I tell the mom three things: they’re going to come home for graduation, prom, and any event that they need to be there for.”
Illinois’ rising sophomore QB Trey Petty joined the Illini early in spring 2024, but missed the spring football game because of prom.
As early high school graduates, these freshmen need to adjust to a new environment, a Big Ten locker room, a new coaching staff, and a new weight room, as well as the major changes that come with…
Source link : https://www.thechampaignroom.com/2025/3/31/24385766/illinois-big-ten-football-ncaa-brayden-trimble-travis-frederick-bret-bielema-freshmen-spring-footbal
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Publish date : 2025-03-31 11:05:00
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