USC quarterback Caleb Williams did just about everything one could ask of a signal caller in his first year with the Trojans.
After following coach Lincoln Riley from Norman, Okla. to Los Angeles last offseason, Williams led the Trojans to an 11–3 record and an appearance in the Pac-12 title game. He also threw for 4,537 yards and 42 touchdowns, while adding 10 more scores on the ground en route to capturing the Heisman Trophy.
Short of winning the Pac-12 and competing in the College Football Playoff, Williams checked off every box conceivable with his play and quickly ascended up the early draft boards for 2024.
Williams doesn’t want to talk about the draft though. He believes he has too much college football left in front of him to think about it.
“That’s for sure now going to be an in-the-moment decision at the end of the year,” Williams told ESPN of his plans following the season. “It’s my third year, and the dream and goal was to go three-and-out. Being around these guys and in college and enjoying it, we’ll have to see at the end of the year.”
While Williams remains non-committal regarding his NFL future, there’s no doubt that he will once again be one of the premier players in college football this season. His play under Riley and opportunity to learn from one of the great quarterback minds in the sport will factor into his decision.
“Being in college now, being part of this brotherhood and being with Coach Riley, it’s been awesome,” said Williams. “I don’t think there’d be one specific thing to affect and detour that type of decision. It’d have to be a multitude of things to lead me to one side or the other.”
Williams is the premier quarterback in the sport entering his junior season in Los Angeles, and with an opportunity to win a Pac-12 title and accomplish something even greater within reach, it’s no surprise that he’s tabling the decision for now, even if the eventual outcome seems likely.
