Isaiah Williams News, Rumors, Updates - Illinois Fighting Illini | FOX Sports

Headed to NFL Williams announced Friday that he is declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft, Joey Wagner of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Williams enjoyed a stellar 2023 campaign, tallying 82 receptions for 1,055 yards and five touchdowns across 12 games. The junior wideout will look to go pro after making 43 appearances across four seasons for Illinois.

DECEMBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Isaiah Williams throws a 14-yard touchdown pass to Pat Bryant as Illinois grabs the lead against Northwestern

Isaiah Williams throws a 14-yard touchdown pass to Pat Bryant as Illinois grabs the lead against Northwestern

NOVEMBER 25, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

Illinois' John Paddock connects with Isaiah Williams for a 67-yard reception leading to Reggie Love III's rushing TD

Illinois' John Paddock connects with Isaiah Williams for a 67-yard reception leading to Reggie Love III's rushing TD

NOVEMBER 11, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

Career day in victory Williams had 13 receptions (on 16 targets) for 131 yards and two touchdowns during Saturday's 27-26 win against Minnesota.

Impact Williams set career-highs in both receptions and receiving yards in the Illini's victory over the Golden Gophers on Saturday, adding two touchdowns in the process. Williams' second score of the day was a 46-yard strike from backup quarterback John Paddock with 50 seconds remaining which proved to be the game-winning touchdown. Williams will look to follow up his career day with an appetizing matchup against Indiana next week.

NOVEMBER 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

John Paddock's 46-yard touchdown pass seals Illinois' 27-26 victory over Minnesota

John Paddock's 46-yard touchdown pass seals Illinois' 27-26 victory over Minnesota

NOVEMBER 4, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

Neglected in loss Williams gathered in four of six targets for 16 yards during Saturday's 25-21 defeat versus Wisconsin. He also rushed twice for eight yards.

Impact Williams was unusually absent from the Fighting Illini's game plan for much of Saturday's game. After tallying at least eight targets in the first seven games the season, the junior slot receiver was used sparingly, and the majority of his targets came at or very near the line of scrimmage. The Fighting Illini did get him involved in the running game a little bit, but not enough to warrant any true attention for fantasy managers. This below-average usage for Williams could have simply been a function of the team's quarterback Luke Altmyer completing 13 of just 21 passing attempts for 100 yards. Williams will look to get more involved again when his team next plays Saturday, Nov. 4 at Minnesota.

OCTOBER 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Catches first TD of 2023 Williams caught four of 11 targets for 43 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 27-24 win against Maryland.

Impact Williams didn't quite match his production from the Fighting Illini's previous three games, as he finished as the team's third-leading receiver Week 7. But, he did break his scoring drought this season, catching a 15-yard touchdown pass to put Illinois up 21-14 early in the third quarter. The senior slot receiver has now averaged 6.2 receptions (on 11.0 targets) per game over the last five contests. He'll look to keep up his consistent production against rival Wisconsin this coming Saturday.

OCTOBER 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Season-high 114 yards in bowl loss Williams gathered in nine of 12 targets for 114 yards during the 19-10 defeat against Mississippi State in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Jan. 2.

Impact Williams logged season highs in both receptions and yards during this pass-heavy outing for the Illini offense. The Illini were held to 35 yards across 29 team rushing yards, leaving Williams to serve as the team's primary chain mover on second and third downs during the second half. The 5-foot-10 slot receiver also logged the team's longest play of the game, catching a deep pass down the middle of the field before dodging a few defenders on his way to a 41-yard gain in the second quarter. Williams' elusiveness before and after the catch helped him finish as the Illini's leading receiver this season with 81 catches (on 107 targets) for 709 yards and five touchdowns. He should enter the 2023 campaign as the team's No. 1 wideout ahead of Pat Bryant and Casey Washington.

JANUARY 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Suffers concussion Saturday Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said that Williams sustained a concussion during Friday's 9-6 win over Iowa, Doug Bucshon of Rivals.com reports.

Impact Williams temporarily exited during the third quarter and returned before exiting for the remainder of Friday's game, though it's unclear exactly when the sophomore suffered this injury. As a result, the slot receiver will likely be considered doubtful heading into next Saturday's game against Minnesota. Williams finished with three receptions (four targets) for negative-seven yards and two rushes for three yards during Illinois' last-minute win. The 5-foot-10 wideout also fumbled twice, including a muffed punt recovered by Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell.

OCTOBER 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Top target in win Williams hauled in seven of his nine targets for 31 yards during Saturday's 34-10 victory over Wisconsin.

Impact Williams paced the Fighting Illini's wideouts in targets, though he averaged a moderate 4.4 yards per receptions. The sophomore slot once again served as a short-yardage target while accounting for just under half of quarterback Tommy DeVito's completions (18) in Week 5. Williams has averaged 7.0 receptions (9.6 targets) for 58.2 yards so far this season, and he'll likely be heavily relied upon during Illinois' next game against Nebraska on Friday.

OCTOBER 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Houses 63-yard score Williams caught all nine of his passes for 103 yards and a touchdown during Thursday's 31-0 win over Chattanooga.

Impact Williams once again paced the Fighting Illini's receiving corps in targets while doing the majority of his work within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. The sophomore slot averaged five yards per reception outside of his 63-yard catch-and-run touchdown scored off of a three-yard hitch route from quarterback Tommy DeVito in the third quarter. Williams has now recorded twice as many targets (39) and receptions (28) as Illinois' next closest receiver this season, and he should continue to receive plenty of short passes during Big Ten play.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

College football top plays: Hoosiers win thriller over Illini

College football's Week 1 is off and running. Here are the top plays from Thursday and Friday!

SEPTEMBER 3, 2022

College football top plays: Hoosiers win thriller over Illini

Illinois' Isaiah Williams rushes for a five-yard touchdown to take the lead from Indiana, 7-3

Illinois' Isaiah Williams rushes for a five-yard touchdown to take the lead from Indiana, 7-3

SEPTEMBER 3, 2022 • Fox Sports

Target hog in Week 1 Williams reeled in eight of his whopping 18 targets for 101 yards in the Week 1 contests versus UTSA.

Impact Williams appears to have a clear connection with Artuer Sitkowski under center, as the Sitkowski looked his way time and time again during Saturday's contest. Considering the Illini figure to be trailing many times in 2021, Williams has the talent and should have the opportunity to warrant some consideration in a number of fantasy formats.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Scores in debut at receiver Williams had six catches for 41 yards and a touchdown Saturday against Nebraska and added two rushes for four yards.

Impact It was a strong debut for Williams at his new position after transitioning from quarterback during the offseason. Williams led the team in receptions and performed despite starting quarterback Brandon Peters going down with an injury. Illinois hosts UTSA on Sept. 4.

AUGUST 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Starting Saturday Williams is one of the starting wide receivers for Saturday's season-opener against Nebraska, Jeremy Werner of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Williams switched to wide receiver in the spring after being positioned at quarterback his first two seasons at Illinois. The redshirt sophomore did show a bit last season that he can run after carrying the ball 63 times for 389 yards and a touchdown. The Illini are down a handful of receivers including Brian Hightower (undisclosed) and Jafar Armstrong (undisclosed) so it's unclear if he'll be able to hold his starting spot once some other guys get healthy.

AUGUST 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Will be used as wide receiver Coach Brett Bielema said that Williams will be a wide receiver moving forward, Bret Beherns of WCIA.com reports.

Impact This is a pretty significant position change for Illinois, as Williams was in that battle to be the starting quarterback in the fall. Last season he threw for 393 yards and four touchdowns. It's unclear where Williams might fall in the depth chart among the receivers, but they likely wouldn't make this kind of move unless Williams could make an impact right away at that position.

MAY 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Illinois QB Isaiah Williams makes history with 195 rushing yards in first-career start

Illinois QB Isaiah Williams makes history with 195 rushing yards in first-career start

NOVEMBER 17, 2020 • Fox Sports