When opportunity knocks, it’s best to open the door.
Trey Urwiler never thought he would transfer from his original college choice of Northern Illinois. But after three years in DeKalb, the Batavia graduate has found a new home at Aurora University.
“I’m not a big fan of guys switching schools all that much,” Urwiler said this week following a volunteer evening workout with receivers and quarterbacks at AU’s Spartan Athletic Park. “I really wanted to stay and make it work, which is probably why I stayed so long.”
Following a redshirt season, his playing time at wide receiver was limited to spot duty in five and eight games, respectively, the following two seasons. He finished with just one pass reception.
“I was dedicated to that team,” Urwiler said. “I really wanted it to work out, but I just wasn’t getting the playing time.”
Urwiler took the plunge, utilizing the transfer portal like older brother Quinn had previously done after two seasons at North Dakota to come to NIU. A redshirt senior, Quinn is the Huskies’ backup middle linebacker, according to coach Thomas Hammock .
Trey Urwiler has a connection with AU coach Don Beebe , having trained for parts of two winters in high school at a football camp offered by Beebe’s House of Speed.
Beebe figures the 5-foot-9, 185-pound Urwiler, who is quick in and out of his cuts, will see plenty of playing time this fall in the slot position.
“He reminds me a lot of my son, Chad , but faster,” Beebe said.
Chad Beebe played at NIU and in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings.
Urwiler, who played running back through his sophomore year of high school, moved to wideout as a junior and caught 56 passes for 880 yards. His numbers were impacted as a senior when he had to play quarterback the final four games of the six-game spring pandemic season due to an injury to starter Kyle Oroni .
Urwiler has big shoes to fill, likely taking the spot held last season by senior Trey Madsen , who led the Spartans’ receivers with 53 catches for 838 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Madsen, who is AU’s all-time leader in receptions (200), receiving yards (2,956) and TDs (48), is now a graduate transfer himself at nearby NCAA Division III powerhouse North Central College.
The Cardinals are the Spartans’ Week 2 opponent.
“Urwiler will take Madsen’s spot, so that’s an upgrade, which is crazy to say since Madsen was an All-American (in 2022),” Beebe said. “Trey (Urwiler) has better skills and is faster than (Madsen).”
Beebe has great expectations for his receivers.
“This is the best group we’ve ever had, there’s no question about it,” Beebe said.
Much is also expected of sophomore Avron Carter , a 5-8 speedster from San Antonio, Texas.
“He’s a stud,” Beebe said.
Carter and Urwiler will be joined at receiver by a pair of returning seniors in 6-3 Ty Pruett and 6-5 Connor Bright , who had 35 and 24 receptions, respectively, in 2023.
“Both of those kids have run 4.5 (in the 40-yard dash) at that size,” Beebe said. “Our team speed at the wideout position is going to be ridiculous.”
Urwiler said he was contacted by coaches from all three levels while in the portal and had several Division II offers.
“I always knew there was a door open here with Don because he had trained me,” Urwiler said. “I needed someone I could trust, and there’s no coach like coach Beebe.
“He’s what I needed at this point, that’s really what it came down to. He makes you run routes like you’ve never run routes before, and the offense is exciting. He’s not afraid to chuck the ball around, so it sounds intriguing.”
And, of course, there are the connections Beebe has as a former NFL receiver.
“He has the same amount of connections, if not more, than a lot of bigger schools,” Urwiler said. “There’s a good chance, when I get to the end, I’m still going to get the same opportunities those guys at Northern are getting in terms of getting in front of scouts, getting in front of an NFL guy.
“I certainly think I’m good enough to play at any level.”
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