Quarterback DJ Williams Announces Return to Southern Illinois
01/05/2026 | 10:00:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Quarterback DJ Williams has announced that he will be returning to the Southern Illinois University football program in 2026.
"I'm excited to continue to build on what I started with this team last year," Williams said. "Time to go win a championship now."
The record-breaking quarterback finished eighth in the Walter Payton Award voting and third in the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year voting in 2025. Williams also earned All-American honors from FCS Football Central, Associated Press, and Stats Perform.
Williams was also an All-MVFC Honorable Mention, which was announced on Nov. 25.
"The number one stat for quarterbacks is winning, and DJ's determined to do that," head coach Nick Hill said. "There's a legacy piece to this, as well. He'll be at Southern Illinois for three years. I think he saw how Jeremy Chinn comes back and goes into the Hall of Fame and the reception of having a college home to go back to. In this era, a lot of kids might not have that. He valued that. He wants a chance to be that first-ballot Hall of Famer, one of the best players to ever put on the uniform here."
No Saluki quarterback has ever rushed for more yards in a season than Williams did this past year, tallying a program-record 847 rushing yards to go along with 18 rushing touchdowns.Â
In terms of passing, Williams completed 222-of-352 passes (.630) for 2846 yards, 22 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Williams ranked fifth in the FCS in both rushing touchdowns as well as total offense (307.8 yards-per-game). The Harvey, Ill., native was also second in the nation in points responsible for (246), 11th in passing yards, and 18th in passing touchdowns.
On the year, Williams had three games with over 300 passing yards, including 361 at Youngstown State on Nov. 8. Southern Illinois' signal caller also recorded at least three passing touchdowns in four appearances.
Williams rushed for over 100 yards on three separate occasions in 2025. The quarterback had 128 rushing yards and three touchdowns on Sept. 13 at UT Martin, 151 yards and two touchdowns a week later at SEMO on Sept. 20, and then 134 yards and four touchdowns on Nov. 22 at Illinois State. The four rushing scores are tied for the third-most in a single game in program history.Â
"My search for another program and another coach that trusts and believes in me like Coach Hill does never came to fruition," Williams said.
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