It’s a rare occurrence for a Heisman Trophy winner to live up to the high expectations as an NFL prospect, but USC’s Caleb Williams might just be the exception. In 2022, Williams amazed the football world with his outstanding performance, earning himself another bronze statue in USC’s Heritage Hall trophy case. Now, in his junior year, the 6-foot-1, 215-pound quarterback is solidifying his position as the frontrunner for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Despite facing weaker competition, Williams has been exceptional on the field. He boasts a 73.5 percent completion rate and an impressive 9-0 touchdown-to-interception ratio, indicating that his game has reached a whole new level. In 2022, Williams had a 66.6 percent completion rate and a 42-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio. With an average of 12.2 yards per pass attempt (compared to 9.1 in 2021 and 2022), Williams’ numbers demonstrate his aggressiveness combined with newfound efficiency as a playmaker from the pocket.
Analyzing the tape from his games against San Jose State and Nevada this season, it’s clear that Williams makes the game look effortless. He dissected the Spartans defense with a variety of quick throws at short and intermediate distances. Williams’ precision within the pocket and on the move allowed the Trojans to exploit the Spartan’s defensive weaknesses with quick plays and run-pass options.
What truly sets Williams apart from other quarterbacks is his ability to improvise. Whether he’s sprinting around the perimeter, throwing accurate passes on bootlegs and rollouts, or making scramble tosses while evading pass rushers, Williams has a knack for hitting his receivers while on the move. His blind tosses over or around defenders are reminiscent of Patrick Mahomes’ magic on the field.
While it may be premature to label Williams a future two-time MVP, there are enough similarities between their styles of play to envision the Heisman Trophy winner as a franchise quarterback. His improvisational skills were on full display against Nevada, as he danced around the field, delivering one accurate pass after another. Williams’ accuracy, instincts, and athleticism pose a significant challenge for any defense, and he appears unfazed and composed even under intense pressure.
As Williams assumes a greater role within the offense as the “check with me” specialist in Lincoln Riley’s system, scouts will have the opportunity to assess his leadership skills and overall command as a field general. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner possesses an alpha leader mentality with a highly competitive and tough-minded temperament that would fit well in any locker room.
When considering whether Williams can repeat as a Heisman winner, it’s challenging to find weaknesses in a quarterback with a career completion rate of 66.4 percent and an impressive 72-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio over 27 games. Williams has excelled as a playmaker since his freshman year at Oklahoma and has continued to thrive after transferring to USC under Lincoln Riley’s guidance. His consistency, reliability, and dependability as a QB1 are precisely what coaches and executives look for in a franchise quarterback.
While scouts might point out Williams’ tendency to seek big plays, which can disrupt the timing and rhythm of a passing game, his success as an explosive-play producer with minimal turnovers makes it easy to overlook occasional progression errors. As a junior, Williams is already a top-tier player with the skills to excel in any system.
As executives and scouts search for the next quarterback prospect who could elevate an NFL franchise like Mahomes has done, Williams’ swagger, playing style, and playmaking ability position him as the crown jewel of the intriguing 2024 quarterback class.
Bucky Brooks is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports, providing game breakdowns on NFL Network and co-hosting the “Moving the Sticks” podcast. You can follow him on Twitter @BuckyBrooks.
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