Juice Williams facts for kids
Juice Williams at the 2007 Fighting Illini Fan Appreciation Day
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| No. 7 | |
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| Position: | Quarterback |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | November 19, 1987 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight: | 226 lb (103 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Chicago (IL) Vocational |
| College: | Illinois |
| Undrafted: | 2010 |
| Career history | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Isiah John "Juice" Williams (born November 19, 1987) is a former American football quarterback. He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini. After finishing high school in 2005, Juice was seen as one of the best young players for the quarterback spot.
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Early Life and Nickname
Isiah John Williams was born on November 19, 1987, in Chicago, Illinois. He was a very big baby, weighing 13 pounds and 8 ounces! His grandmother gave him the nickname "Juice" because he was "big and juicy."
Juice attended Chicago Vocational High School, the same school as famous football player Dick Butkus. While in high school, Juice was an honor student and was active in his church and local community.
Becoming a College Star
Juice Williams was a highly sought-after player when he finished high school. Many colleges wanted him to play for their football teams. He was considered a top recruit, meaning he was one of the best young players in the country. He chose to play for the University of Illinois.
Freshman Year (2006)
Juice started his college career in 2006. He played in the first four games, sometimes sharing time with another quarterback. He threw his first college touchdown pass, a long 76-yard throw, in the third game against Syracuse.
In his first start, the team lost to Iowa. However, on September 30, 2006, Juice led Illinois to a big upset win against Michigan State. Illinois was expected to lose by a lot, but Juice helped them win 23–20. He threw for 122 yards, rushed for 103 yards, and had one touchdown pass. This was the team's first conference win in two years!
Sophomore Year (2007)
In 2007, Juice showed a lot of improvement. He helped the Illini win five of their first six games, including victories against ranked teams like Penn State and Wisconsin.
One of his best games was against Minnesota, where he gained over 300 total yards (203 passing, 133 rushing) and scored three touchdowns.
But his most famous game was against the top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. Juice led Illinois to a huge 28–21 upset victory. This was the first time Illinois had beaten a number one ranked team since 1956! He threw for four touchdowns in that game.
Juice led the Illini to a 9–3 record, which earned them a spot in the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1984. They played against USC in the Rose Bowl but lost the game. Still, it was a great season for Juice and the team.
Junior Year (2008)
The 2008 season started with high hopes, as Illinois was ranked #20 in the nation. In their first game against Missouri, Juice had one of his best passing games ever, throwing for 451 yards and five touchdowns, though they still lost.
He had another amazing game against Michigan, gaining 431 total yards (310 passing, 121 rushing) and scoring four touchdowns. This was the most total yards ever gained by a player in Michigan Stadium!
Senior Year (2009)
In his final college season in 2009, Juice was named to important watch lists for the best quarterbacks in the nation. However, the season was tough for the team. Juice was benched for a short time during the season.
In his final game, Juice Williams passed former Illini player Jack Trudeau to become second in team history with 56 career touchdown passes.
Career Stats
Here are some of Juice Williams's stats from his high school and college football career.
Passing
| Year | Team | Completions | Attempts | Yards | Average | Longest Pass | Touchdowns | Interceptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Chicago Vocational Career Academy | 72 | 128 | 1,841 | 25.5 | – | 22 | 3 |
| High school totals | 72 | 128 | 1,841 | 25.5 | – | 22 | 3 | |
| 2006 | Illinois | 103 | 261 | 1,489 | 5.7 | 76 | 9 | 9 |
| 2007 | Illinois | 153 | 267 | 1,743 | 6.5 | 56 | 13 | 12 |
| 2008 | Illinois | 219 | 381 | 3,173 | 8.3 | 77 | 22 | 16 |
| 2009 | Illinois | 131 | 227 | 1,632 | 7.2 | 58 | 12 | 7 |
| College totals | 606 | 1,136 | 8,037 | 7.1 | 77 | 56 | 44 | |
Rushing
| Year | Team | Attempts | Yards | Average | Longest Run | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Chicago Vocational Career Academy | 166 | 1,441 | 21.8 | – | 17 |
| High school totals | 166 | 1,441 | 21.8 | – | 17 | |
| 2006 | Illinois | 154 | 576 | 3.7 | 45 | 2 |
| 2007 | Illinois | 165 | 755 | 4.6 | 24 | 7 |
| 2008 | Illinois | 175 | 719 | 4.1 | 50 | 5 |
| 2009 | Illinois | 143 | 507 | 3.5 | 49 | 4 |
| College totals | 637 | 2,557 | 4.0 | 50 | 18 | |
Professional Career
After college, Juice Williams was not chosen in the 2010 NFL draft. He tried out for the Chicago Bears but did not make the team.
He then played indoor football for several teams:
- The Chicago Slaughter from 2013 to 2014.
- The Chicago Blitz in 2014.
- The Central Penn Capitals in 2016.
Life After Football
In 2014, Juice Williams started working for the University of Illinois, helping with alumni and former player relations. In 2015, he moved to Georgetown University to work in their athletic development department.
Later, he became a financial advisor, helping people with their money. Today, he is the CEO and Partner of Audible Wealth Management, a financial advisory firm in Maryland.
