Illinois Football: 4 observations from the Illini win over Northwestern

Illinois football came out in the 2021 season finale and dominated the Northwestern Wildcats.

This was a blowout game from about halfway through the first quarter until the final whistle was blown. The Illini put up two touchdowns in the first quarter and doubled that in the second quarter. By halftime, Illinois led Northwestern by a score of 37-7.

The second half was smooth as well. Illinois played stress-free football and extended their lead. The Illini would eventually come away with a 47-14 victory.

Here are four observations from the Illinois football win over Northwestern.

1. Isaiah Williams is going to be a star

When a new coaching staff entered the picture in Champaign, it signified a change in just about everything.

One of the big adjustments was players switching positions. Isaiah Williams made the move from quarterback to wide receiver. This move came as a surprise because it seemed that Williams was set on playing quarterback in college, but the selfless act helped the team and his career.

Williams’ impact on the team in 2021 was huge. Despite lackluster quarterback play, Williams still finished the year first in receptions and receiving yards on the team. His 40 receptions were over double the second place player who had 19 receptions. He also had 412 yards which are nearly double the next best at 226 yards.

On Saturday, Williams capped off his tremendous first year as a wide receiver. He had seven receptions for 113 yards and one touchdown. He didn’t just catch the ball either. Williams also ran for 21 yards and one touchdown.

Williams was the most electric player on the field for the Orange and Blue against Northwestern. This is only the beginning of things to come for this future star. Just imagine the numbers he can put up when Bret Bielema gets more talent into the program.