Juice Williams
From NCAA College Football Information & Resource
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Juice Williams (born Isiah John Williams on November 19, 1987 in Chicago, Illinois) plays quarterback for the Illinois Fighting Illini in the NCAA college football tournament. Williams, a highly touted recruit from Chicago Vocational, elevated on his game during his sophomore year that produced a Big Ten All-Conference Honorable Mention selection from both the league coaches and media. He was among the Illini's key contributors that resulted the biggest turnaround in Division I-A football in the year 2007, passing for 1,743 yards and 13 TDs with a quarterback rating of 119.2. The 6-2", 223-lb dual threat QB also became the first signal caller in school history to eclipse the 1,000-yard career rushing mark.
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[edit] Personal Life
Isiah, also known as Juice, is the son of Stanley Williams and Anita Haynes. His father was sentenced to five years in federal prison after getting arrested in Utah for possession of five kilograms of cocaine (with intent to distribute). After serving a year in the U.S. Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan., on a parole violation, Stanley was released in June of 2007. His mother Anita is a custodian at the University of Chicago Hospital. His elder brother Rashaad is a construction worker who previously played high school football at Hyde Park and Chicago King. He also has an older sister named Bianka, a younger brother named Andre, and three more sisters. Juice has a daughter named La'Chez, born September 3, to girlfriend Chez Chambers of Champaign. His nickname "Juice" was given to him ever since birth when he came out weighing 13 pounds, 8 ounces (and nearly died) and his grandmother said, 'Darn, you're a juicy baby.' Juice, who was a Neighborhood Citizen of the Month, takes up general curriculum at the University of Illinois.
[edit] High School
Williams attended the Chicago Vocational Career Academy in Chicago, Illinois which is the same school that produced ex-Illini and NFL Hall of Famer Dick Butkus. Playing under coach Charles Chambers, Williams blossomed into one of the most highly decorated football players in Chicago, earning a spot in PrepStar's Dream Team and All-American team, Chicago Tribune's special mention All-State, Champaign News-Gazette's All-State, and Chicago Sun-Times' Top 100 All-Area squads. During his senior year, Williams threw for 1,841 yards and 22 touchdowns enroute to being ranked the no.5 quarterback in the nation by SI.com. The three-time All-Chicago Public League, three-time All-City and four-time All-Illini Red Bird Conference selection also put on display his dual-threat capabilities after rushing for 1,441 yards and 17 touchdowns with a 21.8 yards per carry average to go along a sole touchdown reception (65 yards) as a senior. He capped his high school career winning the Midwest Quarterback of the Year award and became a highly rated prospect as ranked by PrepStar (Top 100 recruit), Rivals.com (Top 100, 4-star recruit; 2nd-rated prospect from the state of Illinois and No. 3 pro-style quarterback in the nation), Scout.com (4-star recruit), and the Detroit Free Press (No. 7 quarterback prospect in the Midwest). In 2005, Williams took part in the EA Sports Elite 11 Quarterback camp where he bagged the Best Feet and Most Likely to Play First Awards and earned runner-up honors in the Strongest Arm and Most Improved Camper category. He also served as a reserve in the Army All-American Bowl. As successful as he was on the football field, Williams was also an achiever off of it, as he was an honor roll student in high school.
[edit] College
Williams chose Illinois over North Carolina, Penn State, Tennessee and Ohio State.
[edit] 2006
As a freshman, Williams split the quarterbacking chores with Tim Brasic and made his collegiate debut against Eastern Illinois, where he completed 2 of 4 passes for 25 yards in the lopsided victory. He had a career game two weeks later against Syracuse, where he completed 9 of 16 passes to establish a career high of 227 passing yards with two touchdown passes of 76 and 69 yards which stood as the 11th and 13th longest play in Illinois history, respectively and in the process became the first quarterback in school history to throw two TD passes of more than 65 yards in one game. After that game, Williams got the nod to start against Iowa where he completed 9 of 32 passes for 161 yards and 1 TD but had three pick offs in the loss. The next game, he spearheaded the Illini offense in the win against Michigan State, completing 9 of 16 passes for 122 yards and 1 TD while also rushing 17 times for 103 yards enroute to claiming Rivals.com's Freshman of the Week honors. In the next four games, Williams completed over 10 passes (10 vs. Indiana, 16 vs. Ohio, 13 vs. Penn State, and 13 vs. Wisconsin) and went over 100 yards in those outings. He scored his first touchdown run against Purdue, rushing for a career high 145 yards against the Boilermakers (most by an Illinois QB in a single game). Williams ended the year named as the team's rookie of the year as well as a spot at The Sporting News' freshman All-America honorable mention selection.
[edit] 2007
Williams made his sophomore season debut against Missouri, completing 6 of 9 passes for 59 yards in the 34-40 loss to the Tigers. He led the Illini to a shut-out victory the following week over Western Illinois, completing 50% of his passes while also scoring his first TD rush of the year. He had his first of two 2-rushing TD games against Ball State, his first 200-yard game of the season against Minnesota, had a career-high 4 touchdown passes against Ohio State (12 of 22 for 140 yards), and established career highs in completions (15), passing yards (220), carries (23), and rushing yards (136) in the regular season finale against Northwestern. He made his postseason debut in the Rose Bowl against USC, breaking his personal bests in completions (21), attempts (35), and passing yards (245) in the loss to the Trojans. For his efforts against the Buckeyes, Williams earned the nod as the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week and later on in the postseason, got a spot at the Big Ten All-Conference honorable mention selection.
[edit] 2008
After an explosive sophomore season, Williams was hyped as one of many very early candidates for the Heisman Trophy. In the Illini's spring game, he completed 17-of-31 passes for 210 yards to lead the offense to a win over the defense. He was also named into the NationalChamps.net Preseason Top 20 Heisman Candidate List and was one of 31 Football Bowl Subdivision quarterback named to the Davey O'Brien Award Watch List.
In the season-opener against #6 Missouri, Williams chunked up a career game as he threw for career highs of 451 yards (3rd all-time in school annals) and five touchdowns, while completing a personal best 26 (of 42) passes. With his multiple TDs, he became just the fourth quarterback in Illinois history to throw for five or more touchdowns in a game. Unfortunately, his career game produced an L on Illinois' win-loss card, losing to the Tigers, 42-52. His performance did get rewarded as the league named him co-offensive player of the week. Against Eastern Illinois the following week, Williams had another record-book worthy effort as he broke the Illinois single-game rushing record by a quarterback with a career high 174 yards with a season high 2 scoring runs on 16 carries, to go with his 124 passing yards on 16-of-25 completion with a TD and two interceptions in a 47-21 victory. In a near-upset to Louisiana-Lafayette, Williams had a less than stellar outing with 147 yards and a TD with a pick on only 13-of-25 passing in a 20-17 nailbiting win. On a positive note, Williams did climb to 5th on the Illinois career total offense list with 5,504 yards. At #12 Penn State, he went 13-for-24 for 183 yards and 2 TDs with an interception for the fourth straight game, while rushing for 64 yards on 18 carries in a 2-touchdown loss to the Nittany Lions. At Michigan, he became the first Illinois QB to pass for over 300 yards (310 yards) and rush for over 100 (121 yards) for 431 yards total, a new Michigan Stadium record, to lead Illinois' 45-20 victory. In addition, he wasn't intercepted for the first time in the season, had two touchdown passes---which include a 77-yarder to Jeff Cumberland (longest Illinois catch since 1985), and added two more scoring runs. His offensive onslaught was recognized by the league, naming him the Offensive Player of the Week. Against Minnesota, Williams broke the Memorial Stadium record in total offense after amassing 503 yards (2nd best single game total in school history), with 462 through the air and 41 more on the ground in a heartbreaking 20-27 loss to the Gophers. He also had two TDs and a pick in that game. Against Indiana, he completed a career high 72.7% of his passes (16-of-22) for 271 yards and 3 TDs to go with another scoring run in a 55-13 blow-out over the Hoosiers. At Wisconsin, Williams completed 17-of-32 passes for 221 yards and 2 TDs, but had a season high 3 interceptions while being held to season lows of 8 carries and 4 rushing yards in the 17-27 defeat.
Against Iowa, Williams had his fourth multiple INT game of the season after getting intercepted twice, although he did complete 22-of-37 passes for 272 yards and a TD in the 27-24 victory. Against Western Michigan, Williams and the rest of the Fighting Illini was at the wrong end of a historic game when the Broncos defeated Illinois, 17-23. He finished the game with 396 yards of total offense, completing a season low 44.4% of his passes (20-of-45) with 2 picks and a TD. Against 10th ranked Ohio State, he was 17-for-26 for 192 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 20-30 setback. In the regular season finale at Northwestern, Williams produced 306 yards of total offense (212 passing, 94 rushing) and had a season high 25 carries, but was shut-out for the first time in the season in the 10-27 defeat to the Wildcats. His production against NU allowed him to break the school record for total offense in a season with 3,892 yards total. He also finished the year with 3,173 passing yards (5th in school history) and 2,050 rushing yards (first non-running back to break the 2,000-yard mark in school annals). During the team's annual banquet, he was named as Illinois' Outstanding Offensive Back.
[edit] Career Stats
| Passing | Rushing | |||||||||||||||
| Year | Cmp | Att | Yds | Cmp% | Ypa | Lng | TD | Int | Sack | Rat | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Att/G | Yds/G |
| 2006 | 103 | 261 | 1489 | 39.5 | 5.71 | 76 | 9 | 9 | 25 | 91.87 | 154 | 576 | 3.7 | 2 | 12.8 | 48.0 |
| 2007 | 153 | 267 | 1743 | 57.3 | 6.53 | 56 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 119.22 | 165 | 755 | 4.6 | 7 | 12.7 | 58.1 |
| 2008 | 219 | 381 | 3173 | 57.5 | 8.33 | 77 | 22 | 16 | 25 | 138.09 | 175 | 719 | 4.1 | 5 | 14.6 | 59.9 |
[edit] Highlights
| Juice Williams spearheads Illinois' upset of top-ranked Ohio State (2007). |
[edit] Achievements
[edit] 2008
- AT&T All-America Player of the Week Candidate (vs. Michigan)
- Athlon Heisman Trophy Watch List
- Athlon Preseason Second-Team All-Big Ten
- Big Ten Coaches Honorable Mention All-Big Ten
- Big Ten Media Second Team All-Big Ten
- Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week (vs. Missouri, vs. Michigan)
- Davey O'Brien Award Candidate
- ESPN.com Heisman Trophy Watch List
- ESPN.com Helmet Sticker (vs. Michigan)
- Illinois' Outstanding Offensive Back
- Lindy's No. 24 quarterback in the nation
- Lindy's Best Scrambler in the Big Ten
- Phil Steele Second Team All-Big Ten
- The Sporting News' Best Running QB in the Big Ten
- The Sporting News' No. 2 quarterback in the Big Ten
- The Sporting News Preseason Honorable Mention All-America
[edit] 2007
- Big Ten All-Conference Honorable Mention (Coaches and Media)
- Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week (vs. Ohio State)
- CollegeFootballNews.com's #19 Player in the Big Ten
- CollegeFootballNews.com's #2 QB in the Big Ten
- Illinois' Outstanding Offensive Back
- Pontiac Game Changing Performance nomination (vs. Ohio State)
[edit] 2006
- Illinois' Rookie of the Year
- Rivals.com Freshman of the Week (vs. Michigan State)
- The Sporting News Honorable Mention Freshman All-America
[edit] References
- Illinois QB Juice Williams shoulders heavy load
- Isiah Williams Wikipedia
- Juice Williams always had a good role model
- Juice Williams Illinois Profile
- Juice Williams Stats @ ESPN.com
- Questions with 'Juice' Williams
