football-player football-score football-helmet football-ball Accuracy Arm-Strength Balance Ball-Security Ball-Skills Big-Play-Ability Block-Deconstruction Competitive-Toughness Core-Functional-Strength Decision-Making Discipline Durability Effort-Motor Elusivness Explosiveness Football-IQ Footwork Functional-Athleticism Hand-Counters Hand-Power Hand-Technique Hands Lateral-Mobility Leadership Length Mechanics Mobility Pass-Coverage-Ability Pass-Protection Pass-Sets Passing-Down-Skills Pocket-Manipulation Poise Power-at-POA Progressions RAC-Ability Range Release-Package Release Route-Running Run-Defending Separation Special-Teams-Ability-1 Versatility Vision Zone-Coverage-Skills Anchor-Ability Contact-Balance Man-Coverage-Skills Tackling Lifted Logic Web Design in Kansas City clock location phone email play chevron-down chevron-left chevron-right chevron-up facebook tiktok checkbox checkbox-checked radio radio-selected instagram google plus pinterest twitter youtube send linkedin search arrow-circle bell left-arrow right-arrow tdn-mark filled-play-circle yellow-arrow-circle dark-arrow-circle star cloudy snowy rainy sunny plus minus triangle-down link close drag minus-circle plus-circle pencil premium trash lock simple-trash simple-pencil eye cart
Caleb Williams
CFB

Caleb Williams’ Transfer To USC Makes Perfect Sense

  • Justin Melo
  • February 2, 2022
  • Share
Former Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Caleb Williams has finally reached a decision following his shocking entrance into the transfer portal in early January. According to multiple reports, the former 5-star recruit confirmed his plans to reunite with former Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley at USC, choosing the Trojans over UCLA, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin. Williams has already enrolled in classes at the university. Williams spoke with ESPN regarding his life-changing decision. "I wanted to go somewhere I thought would provide me with the best development both on and off the field," Williams said. "Getting to know Coach Riley and gaining familiarity with his offense definitely played a part in my selection, as well as already knowing some of the guys on the team." It qualifies as a gut-wrenching blow for the Sooners, who have now lost both Williams and Riley just months apart. Fellow quarterback Spencer Rattler transferred from Oklahoma to South Carolina ahead of the 2022 campaign in another move that leaves the Sooners’ offense almost unrecognizable from a year ago. Former UCF quarterback and fellow transferee Dillon Gabriel is expected to serve as Oklahoma's starter in 2022. Williams famously replaced Rattler against Oklahoma's long-time rival Texas Longhorns and proceeded to lead the Sooners to a thrilling come-from-behind victory in early October despite facing a healthy 21-point margin. Williams replaced Rattler in the lineup by starting 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 running ability. Williams' arrival represents a big addition for the Trojans, who lost previous starting quarterback Kedon Slovis to the transfer portal in a move that saw Slovis take his talents to Pittsburgh to replace Kenny Pickett as the Panthers' 2022 starter. Former USC quarterback Jaxson Dart transferred to Ole Miss in another move that left USC's quarterback room rather empty. Williams’ arrival changes that. Riley continues to immediately leave his fingerprints all over this Trojans roster, as Williams represents the 13th transfer to arrive in Southern California from the portal since Riley arrived at USC in November. For Williams, reuniting with Riley was always the best-case scenario for his future development. Riley possesses one of the brightest offensive minds in all of college football and has helped coach and develop two No. 1 overall draft selections (Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray) since 2017. Philadelphia Eagles starter Jalen Hurts makes it three NFL starting quarterbacks to blossom under Riley's tutelage over the past five years. Riley, who arrived at USC via an extremely lucrative and long-term contract, is determined to transform the Trojans back into the dominant program of yesteryears that's capable of competing for a National Championship alongside the likes of powerhouses such as Georgia and Alabama. Landing an elite quarterback like Williams via the transfer portal strongly indicates Riley is destined for immediate success.

Filed In

Written By

Justin Melo