NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
There are times when you realize or even have to admit to yourself, you just work well with some people. For Caleb Williams, that person is Lincoln Riley. As Williams heads to NYC for the Heisman Trophy Award ceremony, it’s not just due to his play on the field, it’s also a celebration of his hard work and decision-making on and off the field.
In 2022, Williams, in his first full year as a starter at USC, gave the collegiate world a glimpse of what could have been at Oklahoma if he had stayed. But now, the world understands just how talented this young kid is and he’s being rewarded for his efforts. As great as he’s been with his arm and legs, it wasn’t until the PAC-12 Championship Game against Utah that everyone took notice of how mentally and physically tough Williams truly is.
Raised in Washington D.C., Caleb Williams attended Gonzaga College High school where he made the Washington Post Metropolitian 1st Team. Even with his senior season cut short due to COVID, Williams impressed scouts enough to earn a full ride to Oklahoma.
Did Caleb Williams Do Enough?
In his freshman season, Williams took over as the starter in Week 6. During that time, he passed for 1912 yards and 21 TDs and would lead the Sooners to a victory in the Alamo Bowl. But as good as was about to get with him at the leadership helm, everything changed for Williams due to loyalty. Riley was offered and took the job at USC and Williams followed his coach to the West Coast.
In 2022, Caleb Williams proved to everyone that he made the right decision. USC began the season ranked 14th and following a 6-game win streak to open the year, got as high as 4th in the Polls before suffering their defeat at the hands of Utah in the Pac-12 Title Game.
While the team failed to make the CFB Playoffs, Caleb Williams did enough to earn him a spot at the Heidman table and be named AP College Player of the Year. In that championship game, Williams was injured, and while many thought that Riley should have removed him, Williams left it all out on the field as he passed for 363 yards and 3 TDs in a losing but gutsy effort.
Williams is not eligible for the 2023 NFL Draft, which means that the college world will have to see him again. If his first two seasons under Riley weren’t enough, we all get to witness what another year under his guidance will do. Let’s not forget, Riley has coached two Heisman winners already thanks to Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield. They say that 3 times is a charm.
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