The Illinois football
program experienced significant turnover in the offseason, with the offense taking the biggest hit.
It has certainly been an interesting offseason for Bret Bielema post-Luke Altmyer
, as he tries to work all of his new players into the fold. When it comes to Illinois' newest transfers
, there is one who has been turning heads at camp, and that is former Florida
Atlantic wideout Jayshon Platt
.
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On Wednesday, Platt turned more heads as the Illinois
football social media account announced that he has made the Biletnikoff Award watch list
.
Platt, a product of North Port, Florida, burst onto the scene at Florida Atlantic last season after three years of limited work. In 11 games, the 6-foot-1 wide receiver recorded 720 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 46 receptions.
As the Owls' second option, Platt still had a very productive 2025 season, ranking top-10 in the American Atlantic Conference with 15.7 yards per catch. Now with the Illini, Platt should continue to see a rise in playing time, taking over a slot position that was once held by Hank Beatty.
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Jayshon Platt is being mentioned in rare air for an Illinois wide receiver
For over 30 years, the Biletnikoff Award
has been presented to the best wide receiver in the country for a given year, with the most recent recipients including USC's Makai Lemon
, Colorado's Travis Hunter
, and Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr.
It is a prestigious award that no Illinois receiver has ever won, which is why a big season from Platt could change things for the better for the Illinois football program.
Platt will be taking over a slot position that was dominated by Beatty last season, as the former Illini hauled in a team-high 70 receptions during the 2025 season. As the key fixture of coach Barry Lunney's offense, it wouldn't be crazy to expect similar production from Platt, especially with the quickness that he brings to the program.
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As of right now, it will be hard to pinpoint whether Platt will be in the running at the end of the season. The Illini are very deep at wide receiver, so quarterback Katin Houser
could try to spread the ball out a lot more.
Regardless of the outside circumstances, Illinois fans need to keep a close eye on Platt as we work our way through the season. He is expected to be a major part of the success in 2026 and should be considered a 1,000+ yard threat until further notice.
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This article was originally published on www.writingillini.com as Illinois transfer Jayshon Platt continues rise after being named a top college wide receiver
.
