By Darin David Williams shatters NCAA receiving records and secures his place as one of the most dominant wide receivers in University of Illinois history.
Football Bio
June 10, 1963 – Los Angeles, California – David Williams, the University of Illinois wide receiver of the 1983 to 1985 seasons, was born.
According to the National Football Foundation records, David, at the end of his Illini career, was second all-time receiver in NCAA history with 245 receptions and 3,195 yards.
Mr. Williams was a two-time unanimous All-America selection in 1984 and 85, leading the NCAA with 101 receptions and 1278 receiving yards in 1984.
The voters of the National Football Foundation inducted David Williams’ collegiate records into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
David, after college, spent two seasons in the NFL in 1986 and 87, then Williams made the jump north to become a marquee player in the CFL, where he was named a five-time all-star and league MVP in 1988.
David Williams conquers the gridiron at every level, transitioning from a collegiate superstar into a dominant professional force in the Canadian Football League. His unparalleled receiving skills guarantee his eternal legacy within both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2005.
- Canadian Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2019.
- 2× Unanimous First-Team All-American: 1984, 1985.
- CFL Most Outstanding Player: 1988.
- Grey Cup Champion: 1991 (Toronto Argonauts).
- NCAA Receiving Leader: Led the nation with 101 receptions and 1,278 yards in 1984.
- CFL All-Star: Earned league All-Star honors in 1988 and 1993.
- Big Ten Champion: Helped lead Illinois to the 1983 Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl appearance.