Gang Green Nation
The Jets recently added wide receiver and return specialist Isaiah Williams to their active roster and he has already played in eight games for the team. Today we break Williams down in detail.
The 24-year old Williams is listed at 5’10” and 185 pounds and was undrafted out of Illinois last April. Williams spent time with the Lions and Bengals before joining the Jets.
Background
Williams was a high school quarterback but struggled to find a college who would take a chance on him as a quarterback because he was considered too short. However, Illinois opted to give him a shot so he went there.
As a freshman, he played in four games. In limited action at the quarterback position, he rushed nine times for 16 yards and completed three of 10 passes for 38 yards and an interception. At the end of the season, he played wide receiver for the first time ever in Illinois’ bowl game and caught three passes for nine yards.
In 2020, Williams saw action in six games, getting a chance to start his first ever game against Rutgers and setting a school record for rushing yards by a quarterback as he racked up 192 yards in a comeback win.
Later in the year, he had another 100-yard rushing performance but he struggled as a passer all year. He ended the season with 393 passing yards and four touchdowns in six games with two interceptions. However, he completed just 41 percent of his passes. He did rush for 389 and a touchdown, though.
Unsurprisingly, Illinois were able to coerce him into making the switch to wide receiver in 2021 and he did well, with 47 catches. He scored six touchdowns, including two on the ground.
Williams made strides in 2022 as he caught 82 passes for 715 yards and five touchdowns to earn an all-Big Ten honorable mention.
In 2023, he had a thousand-yard season as he caught 82 passes again to lead the Big Ten. Williams again had five touchdown catches and added a touchdown pass on a gadget play. He was named an all-Big Ten first teamer and also an honorable mention as a kick returner.
Widely considered a possible day three pick, Williams was not selected in the 2024 draft but signed for the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent and made their roster out of training camp. However, he played just two games for them, catching two short passes, and was released in November.
The Bengals claimed Williams off waivers and he played a role for them on special teams for the rest of the 2024 season but was unable to make their roster out of training camp in August. He was briefly re-signed to the Bengals’ practice squad but the Jets poached him after Xavier Gipson’s fumble in the home opener.
Three weeks later, Williams was released, but re-signed to the practice squad and has since been signed to the active roster again.
Let’s move onto some more in-depth...
