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University of Illinois Athletics

2008 Football Roster

81 Will Davis

  • Ht./Wt. 6-3 / 268
  • Position DL
  • Hometown Greenbelt, Md.
  • High School Eleanor Roosevelt

Biography

  • Rotary Lombardi Award Candidate
  • Ted Hendricks Award Candidate
  • Pre-Season Third Team All-America (The Sporting News)
  • Pre-Season Honorable Mention All-America (nationalchamps.net)
  • Pre-Season First Team All-Big Ten (The Sporting News)
  • Pre-Season First Team All-Big Ten (Blue Ribbon)
  • Pre-Season Second Team All-Big Ten (Athlon)
  • Pre-Season Second Team All-Big Ten (Lindy's)
  • Rated the No.3 defensive lineman in the Big Ten (The Sporting News)
  • 2007 Second Team All-Big Ten

The Davis File
Pregame ritual
I pray and listen to the "Peace With Inches" speech from the movie "Any Given Sunday"
Plans after graduation
Be a businessman--own clubs and restaurants
Favorite campus hangout
The Maryland/DC house (which he shares with three teammates)
Person you would like to spend the day with
With my mother at her job as the Deputy Minister of State in Liberia
Favorite food
Steak burritos
Person on the team you most admire and why
(DT) David Lindquist and his work ethic
Why Illinois?
When I came on my recruiting trip, I really enjoyed the camaraderie with the guys on the team

2008: Finished career ranked seventh on the Illinois all-time quarterback sack list with 15 ... Had three tackles in the season finale at Northwestern ... Had six tackles against Western Michigan, assisting on a QB sack and totalling 1.5 TFLs ... Tallied two solo tackles, including a QB sack, against Iowa ... Had four tackles at Wisconsin ... Recorded two tackles and a PBU vs. Minnesota ... Had four tackles, including one TFL, at Michigan ... Had three tackles with a QB sack, two TFLs and a QB hurry against Louisiana ... Forced a fumble against Eastern Illinois to go along with five tackles and a sack ... Recorded three tackles including 0.5 TFL against Missouri ... Also notched a PBU and a QB hurry against the Tigers.

2007: Earned second-team All-Big Ten honors by the media and honorable mention from the coaches ... Was a Ted Hendricks Award candidate ... Played in all 13 games, starting nine ... Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for his performance at Indiana where he registered four sacks, five tackles for loss and forced a fumble ... Ranked 26th in the nation and sixth in the Big Ten in sacks per game with 0.73 ... Tied for 96th in the nation and 12th in the Big Ten in TFLs per game ... Recorded two solo tackles vs. Southern California in the Rose Bowl ... Had three solo tackles, a sack and two QB hurries against Northwestern ... Notched three solo tackles and a sack at No. 1 Ohio State ... Had two solo tackles at Minnesota ... Notched three tackles - including two solos - a sack and a QB hurry against Ball State ... Had four tackles - including three solos - 0.5 TFLs and a QB hurry against No. 25 Michigan ... Assisted on three tackles and notched 0.5 sacks for five yards at Iowa ... Assisted on a tackle and had a QB hurry against No. 5 Wisconsin ... Notched six tackles - three solo - against No. 21 Penn State, along with 0.5 sacks and a QB hurry ... Recorded a career-high four sacks, seven tackles - including a career-high five solos - five total TFLs for 22 yards and a forced fumble at Indiana ... Recorded three tackles - including two solos - and a career-high 1.5 sacks at Syracuse ... Had one quarterback hurry against Western Illinois ... Recorded a career-high four solo tackles and one TFL against Missouri.

2006: Played in all 12 games, starting the final two at defensive end ... Recorded two tackles, one for loss and a quarterback hurry in the season finale at Northwestern ... Had one tackle for loss vs. Purdue ... Forced two fumbles and had three solo tackles, one for a sack vs. Ohio State ... Recorded his first career sack for 12 yards at Penn State ... Tied a career-high against Indiana with three tackles, including two solos ... Also recorded a QB hurry against the Hoosiers ... Recorded three tackles, including one solo, at Michigan State ... Recorded a career-high two QB hurries against Iowa ... Had two tackles, including a solo, against the Hawkeyes ... Recorded two solo tackles against Syracuse ... Assisted on a tackle against Eastern Illinois.

2005: Played in eight games as both a wide receiver and tight end ... Did not record any statistics ... Was in on 58 special teams snaps and 23 offensive plays.

High School: A member of the SuperPrep top-25 team ... Started on both sides of the ball ... Earned first-team all-state, all-metro, all-league, and all-county honors ... Named to the Maryland Super 44 All-Star team and the P.G. County North All-Star team ... Averaged over 28 yards per reception as a senior ... Made 21 receptions for 579 yards and 10 touchdowns as a wide receiver ... Also recorded 136 tackles and 24 sacks on defense ... Had eight passes broken up, one safety, one blocked punt and four forced fumbles ... SuperPrep All-Region selection ... Lettered two years in football and track and one year in basketball ... High school football coach was Rick Houchens.

Personal: Full name is William Benjamin Davis Jr. ... Born June 2, 1986 ... Son of William Davis Sr. and Pearine Davis-Parkinson ... Has seven brothers and two sisters ... Mother, Pearine, is the Deputy Minister of State for the African nation of Liberia ... Mom played basketball for the Liberian national team and the University of Liberia and his uncle, John Davis, played soccer for Liberia ... Majoring in community health ... Chose Illinois over UConn, Boston College and Virginia.


Career Highs:

Tackles: 7 at Indiana, 9/22/07
Solos: 4 vs. Missouri, 9/1/07
TFL: 5 at Indiana, 9/22/07
QB Hurries: 2, twice (last time at Penn State, 10/21/06)
QB Sacks: 4 at Indiana, 9/22/07
Forced Fumbles: 2 vs. Ohio State, 11/4/06


Davis' Statistics:

Season Totals Rushing Receiving Passing Kick Ret Punt Ret all
Year no. yds td lg no. yds td lg c-a-i yds td lg no. yds td lg no. yds td lg purp
2006 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2007 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2008 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
TOTALS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Season Totals Tackles Sacks Fumble Int pass blkd PAT PAT
Year solo ast total tfl yds no. yds ff fr yds no. yds qbh brup kick kicks rush rcv saf pts
2006 11 7 18 3.5 20 2.0 19 2 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
2007 29 12 41 12.5 56 9.5 45 1 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
2008 13 23 36 7 25 3.5 21 1 0 0 0 0 3 2 1 0-0 0 0 0 0
TOTALS 53 42 95 23 101 15 85 4 0 0 0 0 19 2 0 0-0 0 0 0 0

2008 Rushing Receiving Passing Kick Ret Punt Ret all
Date Opponent no. yds td lg no. yds td lg c-a-i yds td lg no. yds td lg no. yds td lg purp
Aug 30, 2008 vs. Missouri 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sep 06, 2008 EASTERN ILLINOIS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sep 13, 2008 LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sep 27, 2008 at Penn State 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Oct 4, 2008 at Michigan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Oct 11, 2008 MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Oct. 18, 2008 INDIANA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Oct 25, 2008 at Wisconsin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nov 1, 2008 IOWA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nov 8, 2008 vs. Western Michigan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nov 15, 2008 OHIO STATE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nov 22, 2008 at Northwestern 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Games played: 12

2008 Tackles Sacks Fumble Int pass blkd PAT PAT
Date Opponent solo ast total tfl yds no. yds ff fr yds no. yds qbh brup kick kicks rush rcv saf pts
Aug 30, 2008 vs. Missouri 0 3 3 0.5 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Sep 06, 2008 EASTERN ILLINOIS 1 4 5 1.0 8 1.0 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Sep 13, 2008 LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE 2 1 3 2.0 8 1.0 7 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Sep 27, 2008 at Penn State 1 1 2 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Oct 4, 2008 at Michigan 3 1 4 1.0 1 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Oct 11, 2008 MINNESOTA 0 2 2 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Oct 18, 2008 INDIANA 0 1 1 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Oct 25, 2008 at Wisconsin 2 2 4 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Nov 1, 2008 IOWA 2 0 2 1.0 4 1.0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Nov 08, 2008 vs. Western Michigan 0 6 6 1.5 4 0.5 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Nov 15, 2008 OHIO STATE 1 0 1 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Nov 22, 2008 at Northwestern 1 2 3 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0

2007 Rushing Receiving Passing Kick Ret Punt Ret all
Date Opponent no. yds td lg no. yds td lg c-a-i yds td lg no. yds td lg no. yds td lg purp
Sep 01, 2007 vs. Missouri 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sep 08, 2007 WESTERN ILLINOIS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sep 15, 2007 at Syracuse 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sep 22, 2007 at Indiana 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sep 29, 2007 PENN STATE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Oct 06, 2007 WISCONSIN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Oct. 13, 2007 at Iowa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Oct 20, 2007 MICHIGAN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Oct 27, 2007 BALL STATE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nov 03, 2007 at Minnesota 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 1 9 0 9 0 0 0 0 9
Nov 10, 2007 at Ohio State 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nov 17, 2007 NORTHWESTERN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Jan 1, 2008 vs. USC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Games played: 13
Kick ret avg: 9.0
All purpose avg/game: 0.7

2007 Tackles Sacks Fumble Int pass blkd PAT PAT
Date Opponent solo ast total tfl yds no. yds ff fr yds no. yds qbh brup kick kicks rush rcv saf pts
Sep 01, 2007 vs Missouri 4 0 4 1.0 5 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Sep 08, 2007 WESTERN ILLINOIS 0 0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Sep 15, 2007 at Syracuse 2 1 3 1.5 7 1.5 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Sep 22, 2007 at Indiana 5 2 7 5.0 22 4.0 18 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Sep 29, 2007 PENN STATE 3 3 6 1.0 2 0.5 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Oct 06, 2007 WISCONSIN 0 1 1 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Oct. 13, 2007 at Iowa 0 3 3 0.5 5 0.5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Oct 20, 2007 MICHIGAN 3 1 4 0.5 1 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Oct 27, 2007 BALL STATE 2 1 3 1.0 5 1.0 5 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Nov 03, 2007 at Minnesota 2 0 2 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Nov 10, 2007 at Ohio State 3 0 3 1.0 4 1.0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Nov 17, 2007 NORTHWESTERN 3 0 3 1.0 5 1.0 5 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Jan 1, 2008 vs. USC 2 0 2 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0

2006 Rushing Receiving Passing Kick Ret Punt Ret all
Date Opponent no. yds td lg no. yds td lg c-a-i yds td lg no. yds td lg no. yds td lg purp
Sep 02, 2006 EASTERN ILLINOIS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sep 09, 2006 at RUTGERS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sep 16, 2006 SYRACUSE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sep 23, 2006 IOWA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sep 30, 2006 at Michigan State 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Oct 07, 2006 INDIANA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Oct 14, 2006 OHIO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Oct 21, 2006 at Penn State 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Oct 28, 2006 at Wisconsin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nov 04, 2006 OHIO STATE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nov 11, 2006 PURDUE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nov 18 2006 at Northwestern 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Games played: 12

2006 Tackles Sacks Fumble Int pass blkd PAT PAT
Date Opponent solo ast total tfl yds no. yds ff fr yds no. yds qbh brup kick kicks rush rcv saf pts
Sep 02, 2006 EASTERN ILLINOIS 0 1 1 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Sep 09, 2006 at RUTGERS 0 0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Sep 16, 2006 SYRACUSE 2 0 2 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Sep 23, 2006 IOWA 1 1 2 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Sep 30, 2006 at Michigan State 1 2 3 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Oct 07, 2006 INDIANA 2 1 3 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Oct 14, 2006 OHIO 0 0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Oct 21, 2006 at Penn State 1 0 1 1.0 12 1.0 12 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Oct 28, 2006 at Wisconsin 0 0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Nov 04, 2006 OHIO STATE 3 0 3 1.0 7 1.0 7 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Nov 11, 2006 PURDUE 0 1 1 0.5 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Nov 18 2006 at Northwestern 1 1 2 1.0 1 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0


(updated 7/09)

Statistics

Season:
2008

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 81

    2005Freshman

    TE
    6'3" 235 lbs
    81
  • 81

    2006Sophomore

    DL
    6'3" 235 lbs
    81
  • 81

    2007Junior

    DL
    6'3" 246 lbs
    81
  • 81

    2008Senior

    DL
    6'3" 268 lbs
    81