The USC Trojans are coming off a rough season in which they went 7-6 and missed the postseason. However, with their new quarterback, former Oklahoma Sooners QB Caleb Williams leading them to 8-5 record this past year can they make it back into the top 10?
The “caleb williams” is a former Oklahoma Sooners quarterback who transferred to USC.
11:00:54 A.M. ET
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ESPN’s Pete Thamel
Caleb Williams, the star quarterback for Oklahoma, announced his transfer to USC on Tuesday.
Williams will reconnect with first-year USC head coach Lincoln Riley, with whom he played during his breakout true freshman season with the Sooners in 2021.
“I wanted to go somewhere I thought would provide me with the best development both on and off the field,” Williams told ESPN, adding, “Getting to know Coach Riley and familiarizing myself with his offense, as well as already knowing some of the guys on the team, definitely played a part in my selection.”
vBSwi86gpb pic.twitter.com/vBSwi86gpb #FightOn
1 February 2022 — Caleb Williams (@CALEBcsw)
The decision puts an end to college football’s greatest offseason mystery, as Williams lingered over a month in the NCAA transfer portal. Over UCLA, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin, he selected the Trojans.
According to ESPN, Williams completed all of his papers to join USC late last week. Late Friday, he enrolled for courses with his academic advisor, far ahead of the school’s final deadline. He’ll be authorized to join team exercises in the coming days after attending his first lesson at USC in person on Tuesday.
“I want to go straight to work, gain my teammates’ confidence, win championships, and assist USC return to being a top-rated program,” Williams said.
2 Associated
The move brings to an end one of the most well-known and possibly game-changing moves in contemporary college football, and it’s a decision that might have far-reaching implications for both the sport and the Pac-12.
Riley has now gained 13 transfers from the portal since coming at USC in November, which is a huge accomplishment. None are more significant than Williams, who will serve as a cornerstone and a source of star power for USC, as well as assist the Trojans establish an instant on-field identity.
Williams’ departure comes at a time when the NCAA’s new one-time transfer rule and the opportunity for players to profit off their name, image, and likeness have collided for the first time in the sport’s history. NIL, on the other hand, “had no bearing on my choice,” according to Williams.
Williams, a true sophomore who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 218 pounds, will be one of the Heisman Trophy favorites entering the 2022 season. Along with Alabama junior Bryce Young and Ohio State redshirt sophomore C.J. Stroud, he’s one of the most well-known quarterbacks in college football.
Caleb Williams and his father, Carl, have spent years planning Caleb’s career around the objective of becoming the first choice in the NFL draft. After two seasons at USC, Williams will be eligible in 2024.
Caleb Williams stated, “Honestly, this was a big choice, and we wanted to examine all of our alternatives and determine which school would best prepare me for the next level.”
Caleb Williams chose Oklahoma out of high school as a result of that first process. Since 2017, Riley has assisted in the development of two No. 1 overall draft selections, Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, as well as another potential NFL starter, Jalen Hurts, at Oklahoma. Riley departed OU for USC in late November, an uncommon move for a high-profile coach to switch schools.
Riley’s star has now followed, giving USC a quarterback who has the ability to live up to the school’s illustrious history at the position.
“When it comes to national titles and Heisman winners, USC undoubtedly has a wonderful football heritage,” Williams remarked. “However, apart from football, the school and the city provide me with the opportunity to pursue and develop other interests I have off the field.”
After displacing incumbent Spencer Rattler as the starting quarterback at Oklahoma in 2021, Williams was named an ESPN freshman All-American. Williams took over for Rattler in the second quarter of a comeback against Texas in October, and after guiding the Sooners to a 55-48 victory, he was named the starter for permanently.
Williams started the last seven games for Oklahoma (11-2), accumulating 1,912 passing yards and 442 running yards while scoring 27 touchdowns (21 passing, six rushing) and throwing just four interceptions.
Now that Williams has made the switch from the Big 12 to the Pac-12, he’ll be the favorite to start at USC right away over a pair of untested quarterbacks in Miller Moss and Vanderbilt transfer Mo Hasan.
In 2021, USC went 4-8 and dismissed coach Clay Helton after just two games. After the season, USC’s top two quarterbacks, Kedon Slovis and Jaxson Dart, both moved to Pittsburgh and Ole Miss, respectively.
Williams stated he grew up visiting California with his family and that playing for one of the California colleges was “always a goal.”
That desire has come true, giving USC an adrenaline rush and sending shockwaves across the sport.
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