Senior Quarterback Named to Manning List; Linebacker up for Lombardi

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - University of Illinois senior quarterback Juice Williams and junior linebacker Martez Wilson have been named to preseason watch lists, as announced by the awards' committees, Monday. Williams is up for the Manning Award given to the nation's top quarterbacks, and Wilson for the Rotary Lombardi Award, which is given to the outstanding offensive or defensive player set no farther than 10 yards from the ball.


Williams returns for his fourth season as Illinois' starting quarterback after leading the Big Ten in passing and total offense as a junior. Williams hopes to lead the Illini back to national prominence as he did in 2007 when the squad played in the 2008 Rose Bowl. In three seasons under center, he has racked up over 6,400 passing yards and over 2,000 on the ground. He is on pace to break Illinois' career records for passing and total offense and will challenge the Big Ten's all-time total offense mark.

Wilson enters his second season as a starter at linebacker and first in the middle. He ranked 14th in the Big Ten in tackles in 2008 and fifth in fumbles recovered. In two seasons, he has recorded 98 stops, including 8.5 for loss, and five sacks. He is ranked in preseason publications as an All-Big Ten selection and earned freshman All-America honors in 2007.

(Information from Illinois DIA)