Juice Williams has always been one of those players who leaves you wanting more. | NCAA football page | U Pick 'Em

He'll throw a touchdown pass but just miss on two others.

He'll plow over a linebacker and run for 7 tough yards, then fail to see a pitchout that might have gained 27.

Just when you think the offense is humming, he'll throw a head-scratching interception.

And yet slowly and steadily, he demonstrates a broadening knowledge of the offense, seems to better see plays as they develop and is making more and more sound decisions. Big plays are on the rise, mistakes on the decline.

What we've witnessed over the past three seasons is the development and maturation of a young quarterback, one with a load of natural talent but desperately in need of coaching and technical refinement. We've been able to eavesdrop on the personal growth of a young man who has embraced what offensive coordinator Mike Locksley calls "the quarterback lifestyle" and has enthusiastically embraced a more personal lifestyle change, that as the father of his 13-month-old daughter, La-Chez.

As quarterback of the University of Illinois, Williams turned in his most important performance in last November's 28-21 victory at top-ranked Ohio State. But his best performance came Saturday when he accounted for 431 yards of total offense in a 25-point victory at Michigan.

If Williams wants to make a habit of beating Ohio State and Michigan, he will endear himself to Illini fans forever.

His most recent achievement made him the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Week and it again makes me want to see more, starting this week against Minnesota.

Williams can be such a compelling athlete. He's big and strong and has a cannon for an arm. He has had to learn about things such as passing mechanics, reading defenses, throwing with touch and making decisions in the option game, and there have been growing pains with his advancements.

But he has made advancements, which is why those still clamoring for Eddie McGee to play the position need to back off. McGee is a talented guy, but the investment in Williams' development is paying off and we may just now be seeing him climb to a new level.

I'm not saying Williams should be elevated into the heart of the Heisman Trophy talk. I'm saying if you enjoy watching developing story lines in sports, watching Williams is a fun story to follow because if, in fact, he is seeing the game with a new degree of clarity, the plays that should come from that position could keep Illinois in the hunt for another major bowl invitation.

It's still early. And Illinois is just 3-2. Maybe Juice Williams' learning curve will still have some weird wiggles.

His role as a father, which he takes seriously, has forced him to approach life differently. "The father thing is pretty neat," he said Monday. "It really makes me mature. If I want to do something, I have to think about her and how it will affect her. Sometimes I'm up late hours changing diapers."

Beyond how parenthood has affected Williams, it has changed how his teammates view him. Frankly, they're a bit in awe because they can't imagine the load of responsibility that comes with being student/quarterback/dad.

I asked receiver Arrelious Benn what he felt was more difficult, playing quarterback in front of 109,000 fans at Michigan Stadium or being a father?

"Being a father," Benn said. "Because with the position he plays, he already has to do more than anyone else."

Locksley has told Williams the "quarterback lifestyle" is a 24-hour-a-day way of life. He compares it to a doctor who could at any minute, even on a day off, be pressed into action should someone fall ill.

"He says mine is not a 9-to-5 job," Williams said. "I should always be trying to find something that makes me better."

He has discovered that means bonding with receivers, working on footwork in the pocket, spending extra time with young players and becoming a diligent student in the film room.

Locksley was very pleased with Williams' performance against Michigan, but he too finds himself wanting a little more. He can list the plays that were not made, opportunities that went unfulfilled. So Locksley, who calls or text messages Williams at all hours, day or late night, will keep urging his rising star to reach for more.

"If you keep pushing and pushing, even if he doesn't get to where he's at his absolute best, he'll still be pretty good," Locksley reasons. "He'll only get better at it."

When he does, this Illini team gets better, too.

Mark Tupper covers Illini football for Lee News Services. Contact him at mark.tupper@lee.net