Memory Lane: Juice is at Camp Rantoul
Ask Bob Asmussen about Nathan Scheelhaase's potential here.
EACH WEEK, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK BACK AT A MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ILLINI HISTORY, THANKS TO THE WORDS OF THE NEWS-GAZETTE
This week: With freshman quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase taking the reins, we look back at another freshman — Juice Williams — at Camp Rantoul.
Headline: On target
Date: Aug. 13. 2006
By BOB ASMUSSEN
Senior quarterback Tim Brasic hit 5 of 9 passes for 105 yards during Saturday's scrimmage. His biggest play was a 40-yard connection with Derrick McPhearson against the No. 2 defense.
Freshman Juice Williams was 7 for 13 for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman Eddie McGee hit 4 of 7 for 27 yards.
'Tell you what, it was a lot better than it was last year,' Illinois offensive coordinator Mike Locksley said. 'I think we made some nice throws. We were able to get the ball down the field a few times. I'd just like to see us be a little more consistent. I think we came out and did OK. Not great. Not good enough to win a Big Ten championship with, but I think it's a step in the right direction.'
Brasic was impressed with the young receivers. Freshman Joe Morgan had a scrimmage-best four catches for 83 yards and a touchdown. Freshman tight end Jeff Cumberland had one catch. So did receiver Chris James.
'They're getting a lot of reps in practice,' Brasic said. 'These guys are coming in here and they're getting time and they're getting a lot of balls thrown at them. When you do that, you're going to feel more comfortable.'
When he wasn't on the field, Brasic was watching freshman quarterbacks Williams and McGee.
'They did well,' Brasic said. 'They're coming along great.'
'(Williams) made a couple of nice throws in there,' Locksley said. 'But there were the typical freshman mistakes with the clock management and the on-the-line mechanics and picking up and adjusting to the pace and speed of a game-like situation. When he gets the ball in his hand and he's able to drop back and be protected, he's shown that he has a big league arm and he can make all the throws you need to make in this offense.'
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