USC QB Caleb Williams: 5 Issues to Know About Prime NFL Draft Prospect

The 2023 faculty soccer season is not going the way in which USC quarterback Caleb Williams hoped it will. The Trojans, who entered the season ranked No. 6 within the Related Press ballot, are 7-4 heading into their regular-season finale—losers of two in a row and already out of competition for each the Pac-12 title and a berth within the Faculty Soccer Playoff.

However the reigning Heisman Trophy winner can provide himself a birthday current with a win on Saturday. Williams turns 22 on the identical day USC battles rival UCLA within the battle for L.A.

“It is all the time thrilling for me to be on this sport versus UCLA—[now] on my birthday,” Williams informed reporters this week. “Clearly, it does convey just a little further pleasure only for myself. Simply one other sport [though], attempting to undergo all of it and do the issues I’ve bought to do to try to assist this group win on Saturday.”

This USC-UCLA sport may mark Williams’ closing time donning a Trojans uniform if he opts to declare early for the 2024 NFL draft. The crosstown matchup between the Bruins (6-4) and Trojans is scheduled to kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET and can air on ABC.

Listed here are 5 issues to find out about Williams forward of what might be his final faculty sport.

Williams, who hails from the Washington, D.C., area, was a two-time All-Washington Catholic Athletic Convention choice and the Gatorade Soccer Participant of the 12 months throughout his time at Gonzaga Faculty Excessive Faculty.

As a junior, the signal-caller threw for 1,770 yards and 19 touchdowns whereas including 838 yards and 18 scores on the bottom. Williams didn’t play a senior highschool season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was ranked because the nation’s No. 1 participant by SI All-American in 2020 and was a five-star prospect, in keeping with 247Sports. Out of highschool, the 6-foot-1 QB dedicated to play for coach Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma.

Williams ultimately took over because the starter underneath heart throughout his first collegiate season in Norman, Oklahoma, throwing for 21 touchdowns and working for six extra on the yr. And when Riley immediately bolted to USC forward of Williams’ sophomore season, the QB adopted.

Saturday’s sport may mark the top of the Riley-Williams coach-QB duo. That’s if the latter decides to forgo USC’s bowl sport to organize for the draft.

“I have not considered it that a lot,” Riley informed reporters whereas talking of that looming choice this week. “Simply sort of within the second right here for the chance. We have not had any particular discussions towards it…. We have each simply stayed hyper-focused on attempting to do our jobs and be at our greatest and attempt to assist us win a rivalry sport this week.”

Williams stated earlier this week that he’ll take time along with his household throughout Thanksgiving to find out his soccer future.

Potential Prime Decide in 2024 NFL Draft

For properly over a yr now, Williams has broadly been thought of one in every of—if not the—greatest prospects in subsequent yr’s NFL draft.

Assuming the junior declares, which is all however a certainty, he would seemingly hear his title known as among the many first one or two picks. Many consultants rank Williams as the highest quarterback and total prospect for the 2024 draft, together with ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. The longtime draft guru nonetheless has Williams as his No. 1 participant in an up to date huge board launched Friday. Williams got here in simply forward of North Carolina QB Drake Maye, who different analysts consider has jumped to the highest spot.

“Caleb has an opportunity to be one of many higher-rated quarterbacks I’ve had after we are all the way in which completed with the method—in that No. 5-10 group,” Kiper just lately informed the New York Submit. “Drake shall be simply barely beneath, when you go by as we speak. There’s not an enormous hole there.”

Outdoors 2023 Heisman Trophy Race

The percentages of Williams turning into solely the second two-time Heisman Trophy winner are slim.

Williams earned faculty soccer’s most prestigious honor final season after accounting for 52 whole touchdowns and main the Trojans to an 11-1 regular-season document. However 4 losses in USC’s final 5 video games have all however bounced Williams from this yr’s race. DraftKings Sportsbook offers the junior +20000 odds to win this yr’s Heisman, tied with two different quarterbacks for the Eleventh-best odds within the nation.

Not that the 22-year-old is mild on accolades. Together with incomes Heisman recognition final yr, Williams obtained the Walter Camp, Maxwell and AP Participant of the 12 months honors, amongst quite a lot of different awards.

Williams holds the USC single-season information for whole offense (4,919 yards), most touchdowns scored dashing and passing (52), passing completions (333), passes tried (500), most passing yards gained (4,537), most landing passes thrown (42), most dashing and passing performs (613), lowest fee of interceptions (1 %, 5 in 500 makes an attempt) and highest passing effectivity score (168.5)

NIL Valuation Amongst Nation’s Highest

Few faculty athletes have benefited from the flexibility to revenue off of their title, picture and likeness greater than Williams. The USC quarterback has an NIL worth of $2.8 million, in keeping with On3, which updates its metrics weekly.

That determine was established by On3’s valuation method, which seems to be at an athlete’s model worth and roster worth by considering efficiency, affect and publicity. Williams ranks fifth in On3’s NIL 100, trailing solely Bronny James, Shedeur Sanders, Livvy Dunne and Arch Manning.

Based the Caleb Cares Basis

Williams goes by the nickname “Superman.”

However the Heisman Trophy winner believes an individual does not should be a superhero to do some good. The signal-caller is the founding father of the Caleb Cares Basis, which focuses on such causes as anti-bullying, psychological well being consciousness and youth growth.

“I created [the] Caleb Cares Basis for these youngsters who’re struggling as a result of they do not slot in,” a quote from Williams on the muse’s web site reads. “Becoming in means you are not standing out. Greatness is fashioned in our variations. What makes you totally different as we speak will propel you into tomorrow.”

Williams, who has made headlines for portray his fingernails earlier than video games, has additionally introduced consideration to suicide prevention consciousness by displaying the lifeline quantity on his fingers.