Ask Asmussen about Juice's pro chances here

His senior year didn't go the way he had hoped. Not even close.

And the pattern is continuing for Juice Williams as he pursues a shot at the NFL.

He wasn't asked to play in the growing number of postseason all-star games. And, more important, he wasn't invited to the NFL combine.

Three of his Illinois teammates were asked to attend: Arrelious Benn, Michael Hoomanawanui and Jon Asamoah. The latter wasn't able to participate in any of the physical tests because of an injury suffered at the Senior Bowl.

"I had so many expectations coming out of the season," Williams said. "I had a great feeling that I would go, but when I didn't get the call or email, I was a little upset. But, hey, everything happens for a reason. There are other ways to make up for that lost opportunity."

Benn was a prolific receiver at Illinois. Hoomanawanui was a talented tight end. And Asamoah became one of the top linemen in the conference. But none of the three had a college career like Williams.

He leaves the school as its total offense leader, passing Kurt Kittner, Jack Trudeau, Tony Eason, Jeff George, Johnny Johnson and Jason Verduzco along the way. He became the first quarterback to lead Illinois to the Rose Bowl since Trudeau. He led the team to a shocking win at No. 1 Ohio State in 2007, throwing four touchdown passes and making the game-clinching run in the final minutes.

But none of that matters now.

Tall order

The question from the pro scouts is pretty simple: "Can you make the throws at the next level?"

On Wednesday, Williams had his first chance to try to answer. With 28 teams represented at Illinois' pro timing day, Williams threw pass after pass. From the sidelines, it looked like he was having a good day. Most of the throws were on target.

"The accuracy was there," Williams said. "I think I only missed one pass and that was to Jeff (Cumberland) late.

"Before (Wednesday), there were still some teams unsure about me playing quarterback," Williams said. "Some of those guys were saying receiver or running back. But after (Wednesday), there should be no doubt that I can play the quarterback position. With a few things to work on and get better at, I think I should be fine."

What does he need to fix?

"It's probably more technique stuff, getting away from the line of scrimmage on the first couple steps, things like that," Williams said.

Earlier in the winter, Williams trained in Bradenton, Fla. But when he didn't get an invite to the combine, he returned to Champaign-Urbana.

"That's a pretty long time to be away from your family, especially when you've got a 2-year-old daughter," Williams said.

He has spent hour after hour working out with Illinois strength and conditioning coach Lou Hernandez, who knows the drill.

"He's done it for so many years," Williams said. "He did a great job working with us working on technique, how to explode out of the starts, how to finish. He really helped out."

Williams is on some of the draft projection, but far down the list. Behind Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen, Oklahoma's Sam Bradford and Florida's Tim Tebow. Below West Virginia's Jarrett Brown, Mississippi's Jevan Snead and Texas' Colt McCoy. Below Fordham's John Skelton, Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour and Troy's Levi Brown.

You don't want to be the No. 25 quarterback prospect. Not now. Not ever.

"You look at last year when there were some outstanding quarterbacks at the college level, granted they weren't perfect for the NFL, but they didn't get drafted," NFL draft expert Mel Kiper said. "They had to battle their way into camp and some didn't even get into camp. That's not gonna be an easy deal for an undrafted quarterback automatically getting a free-agent contract as an undrafted player."

The falloff in production his senior year doesn't help Williams. The NFL is a bottom line business. The scouts and player personnel directors see that his passing yards were cut in half his final season and wonder what went wrong.

There is a partial explanation. One that Williams thinks about often. Going into his senior season, offensive coordinator Mike Locksley left to become coach at New Mexico.

It's been done before

In recent Illinois history, there are two other examples of ultra-productive quarterbacks who had it all go wrong when coordinator changes were made before their senior seasons. Jason Verduzco and Johnny Johnson, both on the school's career total offense list, had their senior season sideswiped by change.

Same thing happened to Williams. Had Locksley stayed, Williams has little doubt his numbers would have kept going up.

"It kind of bugs me a little bit because I had higher expectations of what I displayed during the season," Williams said. "It's very difficult to change from one philosophy to another. Mike Locksley was different. He played around my strength. Coach (Mike) Schultz was more so play the way he likes, the way he's familiar with and try to make it work. It got a little difficult at times."

Had he thrown for 3,500 yards as a senior, Williams wouldn't be as far down the list. And he wouldn't have to think about changing positions.

People talk to him about running back and receiver.

"I'm open," Williams said. "But I'm trying my best to play quarterback. That's where my heart and my soul are."

Williams has been thinking about the NFL since his early days in high school. He has always been the face of his program, first at Chicago Vocational, then at Illinois.

If he makes it to an NFL camp, either as a draftee or a free agent, he will be starting over.

"I have a lot of faith that somebody is going to give me an opportunity," Williams said.

Williams hasn't had any calls to visit NFL teams. Not yet. But, again, he's hopeful.

"I, at least, expect to go visit the Bears," Williams said. "I'm a local guy, so I don't think it will be much to go see those guys. Other than that, I'm playing it by ear."

One of his friends made a college highlight tape of Williams. It's 12-minutes long.

"It really sunk in to me that I achieved those goals," Williams said. "All those things really hit me."

Williams wants to add a few more minutes. He's even got a pitch for interested NFL teams.

"I haven't hit my peak yet," Williams said. "I'm very young. I'm very raw mechanically. I'm still learning things. I never really had a quarterback guru at that position. I'm sure if I get around that person, the sky's the limit for me."

Bob Asmussen covers college football for The News-Gazette. You can reach him at 217-351-5233 or at asmussen<@>news-gazette.com.