Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Caleb Williams, the former 5-star recruit, announced on Monday that he was entering the transfer portal ahead of the 2022 college football campaign. The news broke the internet as Williams is one of the most talented young signal-callers currently competing at the collegiate level. It's been a summer of change, as fellow high-quality quarterbacks Spencer Rattler, Bo Nix, and Kedon Slovis have also traded in their old colors for new destinations this winter. Williams famously replaced Rattler against Texas and proceeded to lead the Sooners to victory in early October despite facing a 21-point margin. Williams started the next seven games and completed 64.5% of his passes for 1,912 yards and 21 touchdowns. He added 442 rushing yards and six touchdowns via his dual-threat ability. Williams' decision adds another layer to Oklahoma's current quarterback situation after former UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel flipped his transfer commitment from UCLA to Oklahoma just hours ago. Former Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley, who recruited Williams to Oklahoma in the first place, reached a lucrative agreement to become the new head coach of the USC Trojans. His departure possibly impacted Williams' decision. Williams' next destination will be a hot topic of discussion. We've identified three fits that make sense on the surface.

USC

We can't overlook the most obvious possibility here. Williams initially decided to join Oklahoma over the likes of Alabama, Clemson, and LSU. It's undeniable that the presence of Riley at Oklahoma played a major role in Willaims' final decision. After all, Riley showed a tremendous amount of trust in his star freshman quarterback, electing to replace Rattler with Williams down a crucial stretch of the season. With Riley now soaking up the comforts of Southern California, you'd be hard-pressed to identify a situation that better benefits all parties involved. Williams could continue honing his craft under the coach he initially showed faith in while exploring countless educational and NIL opportunities at one of the most geographically well-placed schools in the country. Riley quite obviously possesses a brilliant offensive mind and employs a scheme that is extremely quarterback-friendly to play in. Williams has already witnessed and experienced the chemistry he shares with Riley, and building upon that chemistry at USC would give Williams a legitimate shot to one day achieve his dream of being the No. 1 overall selection in the NFL draft. Reuniting with Riley at USC may very well be No. 1 on Williams' wishlist.

REMAIN AT OKLAHOMA?

Williams left the door open for him to remain at Oklahoma in his carefully worded statement, and it may not be such a bad idea. Riley's departure undoubtedly left a sizable hole behind in Norman, but Williams has already thrived while maturing nicely at the program. Staying put at a prestigious program with a proven track of developing quality quarterbacks may ultimately make sense for Williams once he begins his tour of the other side. The arrival of former UCF quarterback Gabriel at Oklahoma should have little impact on Williams’ decision, as he initially selected Oklahoma despite the presence of Rattler. Riley was replaced by former Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables. This may be Venables' first head coaching gig, but he's developed an excellent reputation as a strong coach and leader. Venables is a defensive-minded coach that obviously lacks Riley's penchant for offensive play, but it's worth noting that Venables hit a home run with the hiring of offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby. The 37-year-old Lebby heads to Norman from Ole Miss, where he helped develop dual-threat quarterback Matt Corral into a potential first-round selection. Williams is a more talented signal-caller than Corral is and would also likely thrive under Lebby's direction. Lebby is a hotshot coach on the rise, and the possibility of working alongside him may ultimately be intriguing to Williams.

MARYLAND

A native of Washington, D.C, Williams initially rose to prominence at the local Gonzaga College High School where he passed for 1,770 yards and 19 touchdowns while simultaneously rushing for 838 yards and an additional 18 touchdowns as a dynamic junior. Williams allegedly strongly considered staying close to home at Maryland throughout his recruiting process before ultimately deciding to depart the state in search of greener pastures at a powerhouse program such as Oklahoma. With Williams now having officially entered the transfer portal, a return to the comforts of his home state could be plenty appetizing as the young quarterback continues his journey to fulfill his full potential. The Terrapins clearly lack the pedigree of an Oklahoma or the other programs that will undoubtedly vie to secure Williams' services over the next few weeks, but they do offer that hometown feel while also possessing a solid football program of their own. Terrapins head coach Mike Locksley and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Dan Enos are building something notable at Maryland. Both Locksley and Enos served on Alabama's coaching staff in 2018, a legendary Crimson Tide team that had a pair of future first-round quarterbacks on its roster in Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones. Both coaches understand quarterback play at the highest level and could help guide Williams toward a prosperous future. Current Terrapins quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa has yet to announce his intentions for 2022, but Maryland may become a possible destination should he decide to enter the draft.