Why USC fans shouldn’t panic after not getting a Friday Caleb Williams update
A Friday deadline passed without any news about the crown-jewel player the Trojans have been hoping to add to their 2022 recruiting class. What gives?
Adam Grosbard (OC Register) — Friday marked the deadline for a student-athlete to enroll at USC and be eligible to take part in spring football practices. But the day came and went without any announcement from Oklahoma quarterback transfer Caleb Williams, the crown-jewel player the Trojans have been hoping to add to their 2022 recruiting class.
So what does that mean for USC and its pursuit of Williams?
The honest answer is: We don’t know.
The expectation was to have some news of Williams’ decision by Friday. After all, if you’re going to transfer to a school, you’d want to participate in spring football practices and get some chemistry going with new teammates and coaching staff, even if Williams is already familiar with USC head coach Lincoln Riley’s system from their time together at Oklahoma.
But it’s entirely possible that Williams enrolled at USC on Friday, and neither he nor the program opted to make an announcement about his decision. It’s even possible that Williams has been enrolled at USC for some time, but keeping silent about his transfer.
Or, despite the heavy links between himself and USC, Williams could be destined for another school. There have been reports of his interest in LSU and Wisconsin. Maybe there’s a secret suitor out there, too.
But for now, we simply don’t know. Maybe Williams will be at the Trojans’ first practice, maybe he’ll have to watch from the sidelines, maybe he’ll be at a different school altogether.
Friday, though, did not offer the type of closure that many were hoping for in this situation.
ocregister.com
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FROM USC
Williams is another domino to fall, but make no mistake Riley is the largest domino. The guy is just killing it already. We have work to do for certain, but there isn’t a program out there that can have our trajectory. Fight on!!!!
Maybe LOI Day tomorrow will be affected. It just adds another immediate wrinkle.
Agreed. Crossing my fingers for Conerly and expecting a surprise or two. I’m not sure how many scholarships we have left?
I hope you are right. If LR can get Conerly he truly is a wizard.
By my count, SC has 7 scholarships left.
I don’t hold much hope for any surprises tomorrow. CH put USC so far behind with all the top prospects, even LR could undo the damage. I am more optimistic that when spring ball concludes in Mar-April that LR will work the portal again. And the 2023 class will get stronger. Well, that is my hope anyway.
correction: even LR could NOT undo the damage.
He’s finally a Trojan now.
CW is now a Trojan according to ESPN!
Yahoo Sports is reporting the same thing.
Caleb Williams became a star in his lone season at Oklahoma. Now he will reunite with former Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley at USC.
Link to to Yahoo Sports Story
“I wanted to go somewhere I thought would provide me with the best development both on and off the field,” Williams, who registered for classes at USC last week, told ESPN. “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.”
Lincoln Riley is making a good impression on recruits. Here’s what one said:
“He’s a great person overall. He’s very well-spoken and he told us a little about his background. He’s a great coach and finally getting to meet him and talk to him, he’s someone I would put my trust in.
“The vibe at ‘SC was great. It felt like a family. I’ll definitely be going up there to check it out.”
https://www.si.com/.amp/extra-mustard/2022/01/31/lane-kiffin-portal-king-twitter-jaxson-dart-commitment-ole-miss
Just to calm everyone a little, Williams has let Wisconsin know he won’t be going there, per ReignofTroy.
I can’t imagine anyone ever thinking CW was going to WIS in the first place. What a laugher.
Nothing ever made sense about that proposed portal marriage for reasons too numerous to list. At least I never bought into it as anything other than a red herring BS fantasy for Badger delusionists.
Chris Arledge (WeAreSC) wasn’t buying it either: on3.com
Colin Cowherd — “There’s no loyalty in sports.” And Cowherd’s not just talking about professional sports.
I think this newfound “lack of loyalty” is bordering on completely true in today’s sporting world, which really changes the perspective many of us will decide to hold about our favorite college teams.
Things change. Heck. Even the Coliseum is now a Nascar track venue when necessary.
You read what the successful HC’s demand of their players being “all in, buy in & totally committed”. The Sabans, Riley’s, Smarts & others like them will eliminate players who won’t buy into their programs. These coaches talk about loyalty all the time. When you are a winner year after year, you don’t have to put up with players unwilling to follow the program knowing they can be easily replaced. In general across the board though, Cowherd is right. When you have a HC that accepts whatever the players want to give, that is the recipe for disaster. Fortunately we… Read more »
Those coaches still lose good players all the time. Lack of loyalty, on both sides, has a lot to do with that. Just ask Jaxson Dart, who threw USC, even under LR, into the gutter for Lane Kiffin faster than Lane (who now claims to be the transfer portal king) could crack a joke.
Portal realities, sometimes like a house that won’t sell: The Athletic — “As semesters begin across college campuses, just more than 50 percent of players who have entered the portal have announced new homes. The longer a player is stuck in the portal, the more questions coaches have about why, like when a house is stuck on the market for months on end. “The portal was invented for Joe Burrow-type guys. It’s not a bad thing,” a Group of 5 assistant said. “It’s just like anything. We have to educate our players about the tool and if it’s best for them. “Guys… Read more »
All of 247Sports top 50 have committed or enrolled except Caleb Williams and 4 Star OT from Vanderbilt Tyler Steen. Great players and SC needs them both. Coaches have no questions, they are working the best deal.
Of the 18 SC players that entered the portal only Dart, Trigg and Lichtenstein are rated in the top 200. LR has plucked 9 (so far) out of the top 200.
USC’s overall talent level had sunk so far down under The Cat. So many mediocre players wearing Cardinal & Gold under Clay. So much for USC recruiting itself. I’d say that myth has been dispelled forever.
The saying that goes “Defense wins championships” was truly brought to light by the Rams complete devastation of the 49ers offense in the 4th quarter.
A No Star reincarnation of Brian Cushing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGysyc4c9RM
Who got this kid? Looks like we could use him.
He has no star rating and only has an offer from Air Force. Not even any interest in Texas. What the interest Alfa1? Other than he looks good on his highlight video. Big fish in a small pond?
Yes, just like Josh Allen. There are Football Player’s out there that go unnoticed every year…Reese will probably be one of them. His video shows he’s a baller and play stuffer.
FRESNO ST had absolutely no faith in Allen (a Reedley College big-shot who had a large, late growth spurt) even though he begged them to give him a ride. So WYO madly latched onto the California farm boy through insider connections knowledge.
This guy is a most impressive person based on what I’ve seen of him when speaking.
Remember Matt Grotegood? He fared quite well on a couple of Pete Carroll’s National Champ teams….
Yes he did,
Groots, Carson Palmer, Junior Seau, and Willie McGinest were the best HS players I ever saw in person. USC got every one of them.
Great players.. The greatest HS player I ever saw was Isaac Curtis
Imagine if he had been a Trojan
As I retold here before, I played against Isaac Curtis. Couldn’t touch him. Longest legs I remember seeing on a football field. Our whole team was in awe, or maybe it was just me.
I remember watching him run/fly on the track. Seemed like he cleared 2 hurdles at a time….amazing
Matty seemed to make things happen on the field from fumbles to picks to tackles for losses. He was so smart. Always seemed to be around the ball and when he got his hands on you, you wouldn’t escape. He wasn’t that good being a safety but when PC moved him to outside backer, he really blossomed and became a leading tackler. He was a very talented RB in HS. LR could do a lot worse having him as an assistant. He didn’t make the NFL and wound up playing some in the Canadian football league. I think he’s out… Read more »
I remember well the events leading up to Caleb Williams’s announcement Jan. 28 TH
Yet for some reason I keep replaying the leadup
What was his decision?…….
Groundhog day has come early this year
Well the Rams won but still no CW news. Here in Rialto, someone started off some fireworks right after the game. Being Rialto I had to take cover until I was sure it wasn’t gun fire. It’s all good.
Lived in Colton-Grand Terrace for some 65-yrs. Know what your talking about!
Congrats Rams.
If I did not know the ACTUAL location of this Stadium I would be thinking this game was in San Francisco crowd noise-wise .
Glad to see Bengals in the big game. Now get the Rams in there.
Congrats Bengals .
6 minutes left any Bengals fans feel safe with a 3 point lead here ? ……….. Again 6 minutes left .
Making KC have to punt makes me think Bengals defense MUST Have made some sort of adjustments at the half .
Yes it is important that when (<<<<<< notice the word I used there) Caleb announces his choice of USC that he wins over the SC Fan Base ….But for me ….Just as long as he has Total support of the young men in that SC locker room that is what matters most ……How much we fans support him matters …..but when compared to his fellow teamates support ……….Fan support just is not as important as teamates support (Which for me ……Could be part of the fun ……Seeing this NEW roster get familiar with each other as time goes on and… Read more »
Mahomes is incredible, Burrow is just great. Good game now.
It’s amazing how much negativity Caleb Williams has brought upon himself (quickly forgiven I am sure if he comes to USC).
But I see more and more Trojan fan comments like this about CW every day:
“I no longer want him. He can quit a team at the drop of a hat, but can’t commit. We have a character guy in Moss. Let’s build around him. He’s not afraid to compete for the job…”
Whoever made those comment is a fool! Caleb has a huge decision, and is going to take his time, and owes us nothing. Moss seems like a great kid, but is not in Williams class.
Totally agree, we have no idea what CW is going through. No CFB player has gone through it before. Offers are flying in from everywhere. It has to be a tough decision. If he was here for Spring that would be great. If he comes in May he still has all summer to work with the receiving corps. Just like the hiring of LR, patience is the key.
PN4SC, I am with you. Trust LR and let this play itself out. If Caleb chooses to come (and LR knows both Caleb and his dad very well), it will be a huge benefit to SC. All the angst I find simply a waste of time and distracting. Caleb will need to make the choice he thinks the best for him. LR clearly let Jaxson Dart go (he certainly could have kept him). Jaxson probably is getting at least $2,000,000 for his first year at Ole MS. Why go where he is assured significant dollars, starting, and very good coaching… Read more »
Caleb’s doing nothing wrong and has to protect his already immense NIL value, thrown in with his desire to improve best, win fast, and eventually, it all. USC under LR would be great for him, and I think he knows it.
Go Rams! What a huge game this is. I don’t ever remember a bigger game for the L.A. Rams, except maybe when the Rams tried, but lost to Lynn Swann (five catches for 79 yds and a TD) and the Pittsburgh dynasty in Super Bowl XIV. The enthusiasm I feel everywhere today for the electric, dangerous Rams to beat the physical, smash-mouth Niners is palpable. L.A. is already jammed around the Sofi area. It’s all on the line here between the North vs the South of California. I’m a southern Californian through and through, hoping to see Robert Woods with… Read more »
Classic match up physical toughness versus speed. 49ers won 2, hard to win 3 in a season against the same team in the NFL. Rams better be ready to play 4 quarters and not sit on a lead like last week.
I say the Rams win by 10-14 points. They’ve been tortured by these 49ers long enough, so it’s fitting that the biggest, most important match of them all goes to the Rams, amazingly already in the Super Bowl (I predict) after just relanding in L.A. after all those years in Orange County and St. Louis. This Cooper Kupp guy is phenomenally connected to the game.
I’m pretty much with what the consensus is here and that is if CW comes that’s fine, and if he doesn’t, that’s fine too. With the two RBs picked up from Oregon and Stanford and an improved OL, I expect whoever is QB to be handing off quite a bit this next season. Miller Moss is the only scholarship QB left and that’s OK with me if he’s the starter. Maybe they could put him under center for some plays and run student body right and left like the days of “Tailback U”. It will be interesting to see how… Read more »
makai lemon @getabagkai
This is home.✌🏽
3 Five Star commits for 2023 puts USC #6 in the nation, #1 in the Pac12.✌😎
It’ll be a killer class, as in Trojan days of yore. But how the class of 2022 shakes out is what I’m interested in now.
Who knows what USC will look like this season? Big expectations abound, including who the Trojans go after following spring ball.
From what I’m reading, accountability has rightfully taken its place again within USC football.
How quickly will the coaching staff get the offense going? You will have players from both across the nation as well as the few leftovers from last year’s team being introduced to an intricate array of multiple formation plays that will require reads to execute plays correctly they have never done before. There has to be growing pains expected as we are not talking about freshmen coming in to learn over a period of time but juniors-seniors here for just one year to maximize the skills they possess. The pressure will be on both the coaching staff and the players.… Read more »
Okay, I’ll go ahead and say it. I think USC’s offense is gonna be a spitfire pretty early on. Good luck with that RICE. The Trojans don’t play anyone until UTAH on Oct. 15 in SLC. That’s plenty of time for the Trojan O to get its sea legs.
The new USC D is another matter. Hopefully, a few more pieces of that puzzle in terms of new player arrivals will ease my angst there.
Malachi Nelson @Malachi
Yeah, This feels right ✌🏾
2024 4-star ATH Aaron Butler (6-1.5, 170, Calabasas, CA) has committed to USC
Over last 4 hours or so been checking internet once every 45 minutes or so for updates on the Caleb situation …….Here is what I have seen so far >>>>>>>>>…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..( TOTAL SILENCE ).
Thanks for info, great update
ESPN’s Take On Jaxson Dart to OLE MISS over OU and BYU:
Pete Thamel — ESPN
It sounds like Trigg went along with him. Kiffen scored!
Reports Caleb Williams has enrolled at WIS. Unverified.
USC football fans believe Caleb Williams already enrolled, coming to Trojans
https://fansided.com/2022/01/26/usc-football-fans-caleb-williams-enrolled-email/amp/
Waiting for official announcement. Too much mid-information
Famous screenwriter William Goldman — “Nobody knows anything.”
Precisely. The 2020 Winter edition of the Claremont Review of Books contains an essay entitled “Nobody Knows Anything” authored by William Voegeli. It is a sage explication of Goldman’s famous observation. Regarding Caleb Williams prognosticators, the observation is apropos.
Tom Brady, the GOAT, is finally hanging up his cleats (at last report).
Should the Rams take any credit?
Just like we give credit to David Shaw for killing the Cat.
I wonder is he is trying to improve his grades and scores to qualify for USC, but is also looking where he can get in without.
Whatever he does will surely be dissected and grilled by everyone he has come into contact with. Maybe he’s going to skip the announcement all together and show up someday.
We have to decide whether he’s a selfish prick or an astute young man. Either way I’m taking a cut from Disney’s Encanto and saying “We don’t talk about Caleb no, no, no, we don’t talk about Caleb.”
When The Cat was fired, I thought Luke Fickell would be the natural choice for Bohn to hire. Bohn completely surprised us with an even better hire. USC seems to be the natural choice for CW. I would assume Bohn and some boosters, even Caruso are involved in the deal for CW. If it doesn’t happen I would be surprised if they don’t have a plan B, C and D that we will be just as happy with. But I would think if somebody other than CW was coming they would need to be here for Spring Practice.
I can’t remember another USC football recruiting situation that comes even close to this type of bizarre drama. So many questions. So much uncertainty, especially in this new age of CFB. It’s sad in a way, CW is clearly a great player by most CFB standards, and how he kicked strong Heisman candidate Spencer Rattler to the curb was astounding. But at this stage, I don’t really care if Caleb puts on a Trojan uniform or not, no matter how much LR wants him. Like a lot of Trojan fans, I’m ready to move on. If he comes, fine. If… Read more »
To me Rileys actions or in this case inactions leads me to believe there is more that is not coming out. He had time to try to reel back in Dart. There were others in the portal he could have pursued. For some reason we stand empty handed and Miller Moss is #1 on the Qb depth chart. I guess what I don’t quite grasp is the reason for all the silence from USC.
Maybe because of all the chatter it creates about USC? Maybe not. I am already thrilled with where we are compared to a year ago. Like Allen said above, if he comes great. If not I am still thrilled to see what we look like next season.
This is sure an example of the new age all right. Most kids just want to find a place to play ball, get a degree and maybe get to the NFL. But the top dogs that know how to play it can wheel and deal.
Recruiting RB Joe McKnight out of Louisiana had some national interest. Maybe not compared to CW though. But with a suspect OL no one is sure about yet, you better have a QB who can deal with this possible weakness as well as CW has shown. Surely watching LR’s offense, not just any QB could handle its intricate imagined workings. Certainly a pure pocket passer would have difficulty executing some LR plays.
Suspect O-Line? I don’t get the negative hype re: the USC O-Line. Last year’s USC offensive line was equal to or better than the Oklahoma offensive line by nearly every measurable statistic. This was with two green freshmen at tackle for most of the season. This year’s line has an All-American candidate in Voorhees, 2 All-Pac12 candidates in Neilon and Dedich, a physical freak in Haskins transferring in, Ford and Collier with valuable experience and a handful of kids waiting in the wings. I expect big things from this unit this season.
Add to that the new staff being able coach up and get them in better physical shape. This O Line will be better than last year.
Last years’ OL had improved. But only when it came to protecting the QB better. It still couldn’t consistently open holes at the LOS with an underachieving running game. When looking at how intricate LR’s designed plays are watching Oklahoma’s offense and imagine our OL attempting to execute it? It will be a major project getting this OL up to running what LR would want to do with the skilled players he has brought in and what is coming back from last year’s team. Actually it puts most pressure on the OL to block, to trap on plays that takes… Read more »
OU rushed for 2,430 yds (5.4 ypc) in 2021.
USC rushed for only 1,743 yds (4.4).
OU wiped out USC in that measurable stat. Averaging a yard more per carry on the ground is huge.
True, but that is an offensive stat which takes into account the RB. This is where I found my information. https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa/sp/overallol/2021
I’m thinking that also. If LR knew CW wasn’t transferring here why isn’t he bringing in another QB (or telling Jaxon to come back home unless LR thinks Jaxon just doesn’t measure up), especially in time for spring ball needing to connect? Is it Caleb doesn’t have the grades? If he was coming here, you would think it would be definitely to his advantage to connect with his new team in spring ball if this is his last year in CFB?
I never got into the weeds regarding grades. Why do different schools have different standards for scholarship athletes? In my world there would be a minimum standard for all college scholarship athletes that is the some for every school. Its not like they will be Biochem majors! There are easy majors whether it be USC, ND or Podunk State.
You would think exceptions would be made at Schools like Stanford, Notre Dame, etc and USC for talented students. If this was the case here with CW, there might be a time consuming process to go through and if CW waited until just now to commit? Just a possibility.
I don’t like this option. Even for athletes a degree means something. If everyone is super then nobody is super.
Fortunately for LR, he has such a good CFB rep that he’s naturally given a lot of rope here, with many of us bending over backward to justify his moves re USC’s QB situation. Imagine if it were The Cat, or a different, less proven HC who had USC in this situation?
With LOI Day coming up on Wednesday, I’m eager to see what preps sign-on who would never have considered USC pre-LR.
With the current cap at 8 scholarships left, I too am curious to see how many LR signs Wednesday. Oh, and The Cat would not even be in this situation, he would be picking up scraps in the back alley!
I would be thrilled if most of those 8 scholarships went to high rated OLs & DLs.
I didn’t know you were a dreamer @Jamaica. Glad to see that!
I way. Give them all to wide receivers and we will figure it out.
just kidding.