Ira Williams Class: Senior Hometown: Montclair, NJ High School: Montclair Height / Weight: 6-2 / 207 Position: Wide Receiver Birthdate: 04/25/1978 Experience: 3VL

Possesses great leadership in the Deacon receiving corps … enters the fall as a leading candidate to start at one wide receiver position … is the second-leading returning receiver in the ACC (receptions/game) ... boasts a solid frame that has been a real advantage against smaller defensive backs … a good receiver who can make the acrobatic catches … a good run blocker on the perimeter … a physical player … was plagued at the end of spring drills with a broken finger … has added more than 25 pounds to his frame since first enrolling at WFU.

2000: Emerged as one of the team's leading receivers for the second year in a row … saw action in all 11 games and earned the starting nod in seven contests … tallied a team-high 45 catches for 495 yards and two touchdowns … the only Wake receiver to have caught a ball in all 11 games, as he actually recorded at least two receptions in every contest … ranked fifth in the ACC in receptions per game (4.1) … made his first career start against ASU and led the Deacs with three catches for 36 yards … led Wake against UNC with six receptions for 69 yards, including a 20-yard grab … scored the Deacs' only touchdown at Clemson on a six-yard pass from Anthony Young … made nine catches for 80 yards at Georgia Tech - the most by a Deacon receiver since 1998 (Fabian Davis also caught nine passes that game) … that performance tied for the third most single-game receptions by an ACC player in 2000 … totaled 76 reception yards on only four catches at Maryland … had a 42-yard catch in the first quarter of that game - his longest reception of the year … led the Deacs with five catches for 65 yards (including a 21-yard grab) against Duke… Wake's top receiver against FSU, catching five balls for 65 yards, including a 25-yard grab … made two catches for 15 yards at Navy, including a 12-yarder.

1999: Played in all 11 regular season games … caught 13 passes (over seven games) for 214 yards … averaged a remarkable 16.5 yards per reception to rank first on the team … earned his second varsity letter … the team's fifth-leading receiver … his biggest day came against top-ranked Florida State, when he collected a career-high 62 yards on just two catches … caught a 35-yarder in the first half (from Ben Sankey) and a 26-yarder (from C.J. Leak) on the game's final drive which resulted in the Deacs' lone touchdown … caught a season-high four passes (for 24 yards) against Clemson … caught one pass for 33 yards in the season opener at Army … had one reception for 31 yards against Duke.

1998: Consistent part of passing attack with receptions in nine of 11 contests … only "down" time came in mid-October when he was slowed by a rib injury for a couple of contests … single-game high of five catches came in opener at Air Force … totaled 49 yards receiving that day, including a 29-yard catch … contributed to a win at Clemson with a pair of receptions for 24 yards … returned from injured list with two big plays against North Carolina - his season-long 43-yard catch set up one Deacon TD, and a 36-yard reception nearly helped the Deacs tie the game on final drive … had four catches for modest yardage versus both Virginia and NC State, then ended the year with a pair of touchdowns (both on short two-yard passes from Ben Sankey) at Georgia Tech.

Background: Standout wide receiver at Montclair High, where he played for coach Ed Lebida, and at Fork Union Academy where he spent the 1996 season … led Fork Union in receiving with 35 catches for 630 yards (18 yards per catch) and 12 touchdowns … tutored there by coach John Shuman … also served as FUMA team captain … all-state pick at Montclair, averaging an impressive 22 yards per reception as a senior with 48 catches for 1,060 yards … named one of New Jersey's top 100 players while also earning an invitation to the state's North-South all-star tilt … lettered three years, playing for a state championship team at Montclair as a junior … an excellent student, achieving honor roll status while being named an Essex County scholar-athlete … sang in the chorus and assisted with Special Olympics when he wasn't competing or studying … majoring in communications … born April 25, 1978 in Newark, NJ … son of Ira, Sr. and Rita Williams … father, Ira, Sr., played football at Rutgers.

Career Statistics
Year	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Long
1998	24	246	10.3	2	43
1999	13	214	16.5	0	35
2000	45	495	11.0	2	42
Total	82	955	11.6	4	43


Most Receptions
9 at Georgia Tech, 10/14/00


Most Receiving Yards
91 vs North Carolina, 10/24/98