CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Coming off of two straight game-winning receptions, Illinois wide receiver Isaiah Williams was added to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List, the award's committee announced Monday. The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes college football's outstanding receiver at any position.
Williams is having one of the best seasons by a wide receiver in Illini history. He leads the Big Ten in receptions with 68 and ranks second in both receiving yards (893) and first-down receptions (39), putting himself in contention for All-Big Ten and All-America honors.
Williams has broken his career high in receiving yards in each of the last two games, while also tying his career high in touchdowns with back-to-back two-touchdown games. He had a career-best 131 receiving yards at Minnesota (11/4/23), then shattered that mark with 200 receiving yards in the overtime win against Indiana (11/11/23).
Williams is the only player in the nation with two game-winning touchdowns in the final minute or overtime, and he has done it in back-to-back games. He caught the game-winner with 50 seconds left to win at Minnesota, then had a walk-off winner to beat Indiana last week.
Williams continues to climb Illinois' all-time ranks. He is up to No. 2 in Illinois history in career receptions with 200, trailing only College Football Hall of Famer David Williams' 262 receptions (1983-85). Williams is up to 2,142 career receiving yards, eighth all-time in Illinois history.
• Williams leads the Big Ten in receptions with 68, nine ahead of Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr., who ranks second with 59. Williams' 68 catches ranks 13th in the nation.
• Williams ranks second in the Big Ten in receiving yards with 893, trailing only Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr.'s 1,063 receiving yards. Williams' 893 yards ranks 16th in the nation.
• Williams ranks second in the Big Ten in first-down receptions with 39, trailing only Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr.'s 44 first-down receptions. Williams' 39 first-down receptions ranks 14th in the nation.
• Williams leads the Big Ten and ranks ninth in the nation in yards after catch with 474, according to PFF.
• Williams is the only player in the nation with two game-winning touchdowns in the final minute or overtime, and he did it in back-to-back games. He caught the game-winner with 50 seconds left to win at Minnesota, then had a walk-off winner to beat Indiana one week later.
• Williams has at least one catch in all 35 games since he switched from QB prior to the start of the 2021 season, the longest active streak in the Big Ten and tied for the eighth-longest active streak in the nation.
• Williams has at least three catches in 24 straight games.
• Williams has broken his career high in receiving yards in each of the last two games, while also tying his career high in touchdowns with two in back-to-back games. He had a career-best 131 receiving yards at Minnesota (11/4/23), then shattered that mark with 200 receiving yards against Indiana (11/11/23).
• Williams had the game-winning 46-yard TD catch at Minnesota with 50 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and Illinois trailing by five points, after also keeping the Illini alive earlier in the drive with a 22-yard reception on fourth-and-11 from the Illinois 15-yard line with 1:25 remaining. Then, he had a 21-yard walk-off winner in overtime to beat Indiana last week.
• Williams' 200 receiving yards against Indiana are the second-most by a player in a Big Ten game this season, behind only Northwestern's Bryce Kirtz's 215 receiving yards against Minnesota (9/23/23). Williams' is among 15 players in the nation to have a 200-yard receiving game in a single game this season.
• Williams' 13 receptions at Minnesota are the most by a Big Ten player this season and tied for the fifth-most by any FBS player in 2023. The 13 receptions are tied for the second-most in a single game in Illinois history and the most by an Illini in 35 years.
• Williams is No. 2 in Illinois history in career receptions with 200. In the Illinois record book, Williams trails only College Football Hall of Famer David Williams' 262 receptions (1983-85).
• Williams has 2,142 career receiving yards, eighth all-time in Illinois history.
• Williams is the Power-5 active leader in receptions among players who have eligibility remaining.
