4. David Williams
The fourth face on the Illinois football Mount Rushmore is more controversial. This spot could have gone to about a handful of players, but I decided to give it to wide receiver David Williams. He, along with everyone on this list, was a legend at the college level.
Williams played three seasons with the Orange and Blue. He caught 59 passes for 870 yards and 6 touchdowns in year one. He then went for 101 catches for 1,278 yards and 8 touchdowns in year two. His final season was great as well. He caught 85 passes for 1,047 yards and 8 touchdowns. These are some incredible numbers put up by an incredible athlete.
In just three years with the program, Williams set all kinds of receiving records. He finished with 262 career receptions, which is No. 1 by almost 100 receptions. Second place on this list is at 169 receptions. His 1984 and 1985 seasons are No. 1 and No. 2 in most receptions in a single-season in Illinois history. Williams has the most single-game receptions with 16 against Purdue back in 1985. He is also No. 1 in career touchdowns with 24 and is tied in single-season touchdowns with 10.
Oh, I can continue on as well. Williams leads in single-game touchdown receptions (3), career receiving yardage (3,392), single-season receiving yardage (1,278) and career 100-yard receiving games (16). The numbers he put up got national recognition as well.
Williams was second-team All-Big Ten in 1983 and first-team All-Big Ten in 1984 and 1985. He was also a consensus first-team All-American in 1984 and 1985 as well. His great play helped the team win a lot of football games as well.
In 1984, Illinois made the Rose Bowl against UCLA. While the result wasn’t good, the team still seemed on the right track. Williams finished the game with 10 receptions for 88 yards. In 1985, they made it back to the Peach Bowl and fell just short to Army. Williams finished this game with 7 receptions for 109 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The numbers that Williams put up are incredible. This guy was one of the best to ever put on an Illinois uniform. I am going to put him as one of the faces on the Illinois football Mount Rushmore.