CHAMPAIGN - When one thinks about the learning curve that has taken junior quarterback Juice Williams to the fringe of the national spotlight, the notion is that his breakout season as a sophomore paved the way.

Without question, Williams' performance late last season helped propel the Illini into the Rose Bowl. When he threw four touchdown passes and ran like a bull in the victory at top-ranked Ohio State last November, it was Williams' personal statement that he had arrived.

Even in a lopsided Rose Bowl loss to Southern California, Williams completed 21 of 35 passes for 245 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

But lost in the blur of history is that five games into last season, Williams was struggling and the doubters were wondering if he'd ever blossom.Through five games in 2007, Williams was averaging 99.4 yards per game passing, 37.2 yards per game rushing.

Fast forward to today, five games into the 2008 season, Williams is preparing to lead Illinois into its homecoming game against the University of Minnesota.

Five games into this season, Williams is averaging 243 yards per game passing and another 80.8 yards rushing. That's 323.8 yards per game in total offense, which ranks eighth in the nation.

Last week at Michigan, the junior from Chicago accounted for 431 yards in total offense, more than any one player has ever totaled since Michigan Stadium opened in 1927.

Some will point to his pin-point pass that covered 77 yards for a touchdown to Jeff Cumberland. But offensive coordinator Mike Locksley said the feather-soft screen pass he lobbed over rushing defenders to Daniel Dufrene (it covered 57 yards for a touchdown) really caught his attention, as did some of the balls Williams intentionally threw away, showcasing good judgement rather than forcing a throw that might have resulted in a turnover.

Those were clear signs of a maturing quarterback.

This week, as Illinois prepared to play a Minnesota team that has been a major surprise with a 5-1 record, Williams' own teammates were singing his praises.

"It was great," linebacker Brit Miller said of Williams' performance against the Wolverines. "I know Juice is that good. For some reason in football, we always concentrate on the negatives. I think because we want to learn from those the most.

"I was surprised by how many yards he was accountable for. And we had a chance to make more plays.

"We know Juice is going to make plays. That's contagious. We want to make them on defense, too."

Receiver Rejus Benn, who has been Williams' favorite target, said the improvement he sees comes from a greater commitment to the position.

"He's doing all the little things he has to do to get better," Benn said, mentioning film study, working extra with receivers on timing routes and establishing a work ethic that proves he wants to be a top-rate quarterback.

Head coach Ron Zook said the gradual process of bringing Williams along is paying off.

"He continues to get better. When he does the things coach Locksley and the offensive coaches have demanded of him, when he raises the bar, it helps his confidence and the team's confidence. And he knows we will be pushing him to be even better.

"There's no question Locks has done a very good job wit him. I go back to what we did with him as a freshman, when we held his feet to the fire and forced him to play the way we thought he was capable of playing. It maybe accelerated his growth a little bit.

"If you remember last year, when he took off, he kept taking off. There's no reason to think he won't keep doing it."

Zook said he felt Williams could complete passes at a 70 percent clip this season, an extremely high goal. And while Williams is at 57 percent, Zook is willing to cut him some slack.

"(If you subtract) the drops and the throwaways (against Michigan), he had a 67 percent completion percentage," Zook said. "That's not the 70 percent that you want, but knowing when to get rid of the football and when not to take a sack is important, too."

Without question, the spotlight will be on Williams today. That's what happens when a quarterback starts to produce consistently. Everyone wants to see him do it again.

Williams himself is taking nothing for granted against a Minnesota team Illinois whipped 44-17 last year in Minneapolis. He said a vastly improved defense will offer a stern test.

"They are physical and they play with a lot of confidence," he said. "They have a winning record right now and they will come after us. It's going to be tough to come out this week and beat those guys. They have a lot of momentum."

So does Illinois, thanks in large part to the play of Juice Williams.

mtupper@herald-review.com|421-7983