Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Football: 5 observations from the Illini loss to Iowa

By Rees Woodcock

Nov 18, 2023; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema reacts during the second quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2023; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema reacts during the second quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
IOWA CITY, IOWA- NOVEMBER 18: Wide receiver Isaiah Williams #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini goes up the field during the first half in front of linebacker Nick Jackson #10 of the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium on November 18, 2023 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- NOVEMBER 18: Wide receiver Isaiah Williams #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini goes up the field during the first half in front of linebacker Nick Jackson #10 of the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium on November 18, 2023 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

4. Isaiah Williams makes the Illinois offense so dynamic

The Illinois offense moved the ball okay against Iowa, but our drives would fizzle out. John Paddock was able to get the ball moving through the air, and one of his main targets was Isaiah Williams.

Since Paddock took the reins of the Illinois offense, Williams has really started to blossom. He finished the Iowa game with eight receptions for 105 yards. This was his third straight 100-yard receiving game and his fifth this season.

With the 105-yard performance on Saturday, Williams now sits with 76 receptions for 998 yards on the season. This has been an incredible year for the talented wide receiver, but he does more for the Illinois offense than just be great at catching passes.

I haven’t seen a wide receiver like Williams in Champaign in a long time. He makes the Illini offense dynamic. Without him, we have a bunch of wide receivers who are solid, but they can’t make a defense scramble.

Williams has the ability to catch a ball in space and cause chaos. His best work is when he is given the ball and Illinois lets him go to work. Teams have to game plan for a player like Williams. They can’t let him free or he will take it to the house.

I am going to miss watching Willaims on the football field. At this point, I would imagine he is heading to the NFL. With a 1,000-yard season on the horizon, mixed in with his big play ability, Williams will be an asset to any NFL franchise.

Home/Illinois Football