Football • 1983-85

David Williams was a two-time consensus All-American in 1984 and 1985 and three-time All-Big Ten selection during his Illini career as one of the premier wide receivers in the history of the conference. He helped Illinois to the 1983 Big Ten Championship by catching 59 passes for 870 yards and six touchdowns. In 1984, Williams led the nation with 101 receptions for 1,278 yards, becoming just the second player in NCAA history to have more than 100 receptions in a season. He finished his career as the second-leading receiver in NCAA history with 262 catches, compiling 3,392 reception yards and 24 touchdowns. Williams was selected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005 and to the Illinois All-Century Team in 1990. He was drafted in the third round of the 1986 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears before playing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1986 and the Los Angeles Raiders in 1987. Williams played seven seasons in the Canadian Football League, where he was named the CFL Most Outstanding Player Award in his initial season of 1988. He was a CFL All-Star in 1988 and 1993, and also a Divisional All-Star in 1988, 1989, 1991 and 1993. Williams won a Grey Cup with Toronto in 1991 and was a finalist in 1988 with B.C. and 1993 in Winnipeg. Williams was named to the CFL Hall of Fame with the Class of 2019.