Illini seniors reflect on football careers

Illinois’ Juice Williams (7) passes against Cincinnati on Nov. 27. Williams, who has accumulated 10,000-plus yards of total offense in his record-breaking career, has in many ways been the face of the program for the past four seasons.
Ned Mulka The Daily Illini

From a two-win seors have seen a bit of everything. The Daily Illini spotlights a few of their memorable careers.ason in 2006 to a Rose Bowl to a disappointing last two years, football’s seni

JUICE WILLIAMS

Ask a college football fan to name the first Illinois football player that comes to mind, and they’ll almost surely say Williams.

“He came here when maybe it wasn’t the normal thing to do,” head coach Ron Zook said, visibly emotional when reflecting on Williams’ career.

“I was telling Justin Green yesterday, because Justin played quite a bit last week, I was saying, ‘Justin, you’re acting like you couldn’t hardly breathe.’ He said that it’s difficult when you’re playing a lot of football. How do you think Juice felt four years ago when he was the starting quarterback? I remember walking to the training table and I was physically worried about the guy.”

Williams’ career has been up-and-down to say the least, but his place as the face of the program has been unwavering.

“What he’s done, has he been great? No, not all the time,” Zook said. “But I’ll tell you something. He’s a winner. He’s a competitor, and he’ll be successful in whatever he does. There’s no doubt in my mind.”

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For his part, Williams has been grateful.

“I’ve had a chance to really reflect on my college career. It’s been a great run and I don’t regret anything that’s happened,” he said.

“But through all those memories, I’ve still got a game I’ve got to go out and play.”

And with that, Williams will play the final game of his record-breaking career, in which he was the first Illini to break the 10,000-yard total offense mark, on Nov. 27.

Williams’ season hasn’t gone like he thought it would have, coming off a second-team All-Big Ten selection. Benched, Williams went from Illini hero to zero.

“Outside my home, I try not to have any negative feelings at all,” he said. “Indoors, it was tough. I had some long nights, I had some crying nights. Sometimes I really didn’t feel like I could play college football.”

But all in all, Williams’ legacy will be leading the team to a Rose Bowl appearance. As valuable as he has been to Illinois, he looks on Illinois with the same importance.

“Illinois is really a place that gave me a chance to turn my life around,” he said. “Introduced me to a lot of things. I’ve come from a very rough background. A very rough neighborhood. Illinois was a place for me to come and surpass those things and learn new things as a young man and a father. It’s taught me a lot.”

ERIC BLOCK

Block knows well what Senior Day on Saturday will feel like.

He was a senior last year who thought his career was over after the Illini’s season-ending loss to Northwestern.

I was expecting it to be my last one, but I knew that there was a shot for me to come back,” said the center, who received an extra year of eligibility when he was granted a medical redshirt. “It’s more exciting, because without a doubt this is my last one.”

Ned Mulka The Daily Illini
Illinois’ Eric Block (62) communicates with Graham Pocic (76) during an audible against Cincinnati on Nov. 27. Block was granted an extra year of eligibility last season, extending his Illini career.

Block has started 33 total games while at Illinois. This year, though, was his most special.

“It’s meant a lot to me. Personally I think I’ve improved as a player,” he said.

“Just as a person, I have the opportunity to be a leader on this team.”

Even though this season has been a disappointment, Block wouldn’t take back a minute of it.

“It was completely worth it,” he said. “It’s been a great ride, this year especially. There’s been some hard times, but that’s life.”

DANIEL DUFRENE

For Dufrene, Saturday will mark the end of a collegiate career that has spanned three states in three time zones.

The Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., native enrolled at Vanderbilt, only to transfer to the College of the Sequoias, a junior college in Visalia, Calif.

After being an all-conference selection, Dufrene came to Illinois.

“It definitely was a difficult process trying to figure out which place was the best fit,” Dufrene said. “But in the end, it all worked out. Transferring to Illinois was the right choice for me.”

Ned Mulka The Daily Illini
Illinois’ Daniel Dufrene (22) rushes up the middle against Penn State at Memorial Stadium on Oct. 3. Illinois is Dufrene’s third school, with the senior also having studied at Vanderbilt and the College of the Sequoias.

In his first season at Illinois, the then-sophomore Dufrene primarily served as a backup to All-American running back Rashard Mendenhall. After starting last season as the team’s first-string running back, the senior has received fewer carries this year.

“It’s been great to be a leader to such a young, motivated group of guys,” Dufrene said of a backfield that consists of sophomores Mikel LeShoure, Jason Ford, Troy Pollard and freshman Justin Green. “They have a lot going for them and there’s a lot more in store for these talented guys.”

DOUG PILCHER

One of three fifth-year seniors to be playing in their final game Saturday, Pilcher has gone through the highs and lows of Illinois football. Enduring two-win seasons his first two years on the team, the defensive end helped the Illini reach the Rose Bowl in 2007.

“It’s been a long five years, but looking back on it now, it has gone by quick,” Pilcher said. “There have definitely been a lot of good memories.”

The Hinsdale, Ill., native came to Illinois in 2005 already with Orange and Blue running through his veins, with both his parents and his older brother having graduated from the University of Illinois.

“We’ve always been an Illinois family and it’s always been in our blood,” Pilcher said. “Having grown up watching Illinois football all these years, it’s been great to have played for this school.”

Ned Mulka The Daily Illini
Illinois’ Doug Pilcher (95) pressures Penn State’s Daryll Clark (17) at Memorial Stadium on Oct. 3. Much of Pilcher’s family has also attended the University.

The four-year starter heads into Saturday with 99 career tackles.

“It wasn’t a very hard decision when they gave me an offer,” Pilcher said. “I’m just honored to have been able to play here after growing up watching Illinois football.”

DONSAY HARDEMAN

Hardeman planned to play for Illini head coach Ron Zook straight out of high school.

But when his SAT score came in, that option wasn’t possible.

He enrolled at Georgia Military College and came to Illinois two years later.

Although his time at military school shortened his Illinois experience, Hardeman thinks it made him appreciate it more.

Ned Mulka The Daily Illini
Illinois’ Donsay Hardeman (4) tries to excite the Illinois sideline against Ohio State at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, on Sept. 26. Hardeman spent two years at Georgia Military College before coming to Illinois.

“(Illinois) gave me a chance to see more than I did at junior college,” he said.

“It was military school, so it was more of a military aspect. In my free time there, I would have to march or shine my shoes. Illinois has given me the chance to see the party life and meeting friends. Seeing different events, having a Jay-Z concert, we didn’t have all that.”

Saturday his career will come to an end.

“Like coach always says, ‘You’ve played football all your life and it’s going to come to an ending point at some time. You’ve got to face it,’” he said.