By: Stu Durando (Pantagraph.com) —
CHAMPAIGN — Juice Williams has had two opportunities to catch Terrelle Pryor’s act for Ohio State this season, games in which the freshman quarterback has led the Buckeyes to a total of nine points and zero wins.

But no one associated with Illinois suspects the offense that scored three points against USC and six against Penn State will be on hand Saturday when the Illini and Buckeyes tangle at 11 a.m.

“Being a freshman in the Big Ten, you would anticipate a guy like that at Ohio State to struggle,” Williams said. “But he’s done a great job leading their offense.”

Much as Williams did as a freshman, Pryor became a starter early. He has helped Ohio State maintain a No. 10 ranking and a shot at another Big Ten championship.

He has done so with an efficient passing attack and the ability to run the ball, much like his Illinois counterpart. Williams admits that while watching Pryor, who was the nation’s top-rated recruit coming out of high school, he has compared their progress as freshmen.

Pryor has been more successful through the air than Williams was in 2006, completing 65 percent of his passes for nine touchdowns with three interceptions. And he runs just as effectively.

“I’m very surprised at how accurate he is,” Illinois coach Ron Zook said. “They’re not asking him to win the game. They’re just letting him play.”

Pryor started the season behind senior Todd Boeckman. Although he didn’t start the first three games, he got his first true test against USC when coach Jim Tressel alternated QBs.

His numbers haven’t been eye-popping, but his versatility has confounded many defenses already. Illinois linebacker Brit Miller hopes the Illini defense has an advantage from facing Williams every day.

“The one thing I like about facing a zone-read quarterback is that I think we have one of the best in the nation,” he said.

Boeckman and the Buckeyes struggled against Illinois’ defense last year in Columbus, as the Illini pulled off one of the season’s biggest upsets by beating the No. 1 team in the country.

For a time, it appeared that game would eliminate Ohio State from a spot in the national title game. This time, the Illini could damage the Buckeyes’ BCS aspirations, and Ohio State could thwart Illinois’ bid to become bowl eligible.

“A bowl game can’t be in our mind right now, just Ohio State,” defensive end Will Davis said. “All of that stuff works itself out when it’s done.”

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