Mater Dei WR C.J. Williams commits to USC
Williams joins RB Raleek Brown and CB Domani Jackson as the third Mater Dei prospect to commit to USC’s 2022 class
Adam Grosbard (OC Register) — USC added its third Mater Dei Monarch to its 2022 recruiting class on Saturday, as receiver C.J. Williams committed to the Trojans.
A four-star prospect according to 247Sports.com’s composite rankings, Williams announced his pledge to USC during the All-American Game broadcast on NBC, shortly after catching a first-quarter touchdown.
He joins Mater Dei running back Raleek Brown and cornerback Domani Jackson in USC’s 2022 recruiting class. All three committed to USC following the hiring of new head coach Lincoln Riley.
“The addition of Lincoln Riley, one of the best coaches in college football and an offensive genius, how could you pass that up as a wide receiver?” Williams said on NBC.
The 6-foot-2, 193-pound Williams is the sixth-rated in-state prospect in the 2022 class. He was formerly committed to Notre Dame, but opened his recruitment last month following an official visit to USC. He chose the Trojans over other finalist UCLA.
As a senior, Williams caught 51 passes for 830 yards and 12 touchdowns as he helped the Monarchs to a national title.
ocregister.com
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Stetson Bennett (Georgia QB) gonna remember this night all his life …….Congrats Georgia……..This season is over AND (This is just me maybe ) But I am Looking Forward to next season …….FIGHT ON !!!!!
This is becoming such an amazing turnaround in both coaching staff and players, no one knows how far LR will take this even in just his first season.
LR is obviously full steam ahead. He’s got a very well-defined plan I’d say. That’s one of the reasons Bohn was so delirious about signing him.
I have faith in LR’s plan/vision for Trojan football. Until we have OL’s and DL’s to compete with teams like tonight’s, doubt we will play in a second week in Jan.
Look forward to when that time returns
Maybe JT Daniels will get into this NC game. I’d love to see that.
JT must have an injury or Kirby is so dam stubborn he won’t switch off Bennett. A QB who manages a game is not going to beat AL. Bennett is OK, he is not a difference maker. Bryce Young can win a game for you. Bennett can’t. I hope I am wrong because I would like to see GA win.
So far ALA is winning 9-3, even after losing its top two WRs. Amazing. I still think ALA will win. 7 mins to go until half. They are just a machine with brand new parts every year, plus Saban.
DTR is returning to UCLA and OLT Sean Rhyan is headed to the NFL.
GH ended up at WVa. The head coach had acted as both the OC and the HC (much like LR at SC). HC decided he wanted help, so he hired two OCs. So, GH will now work for a HC whose has the capacity to manage him. He is also working with another OC. The way I read it, the WV HC wanted one assistant to run the passing game and another to head up the run game. I do wish GH the best. He has landed well on another P5 team where he will be given the structure and… Read more »
Good for GH. I’m happy for TO too. Nice to see them moving on, and not too badly at all.
Trigg in portal as well. Hard to believe LR would have initiated that.
Too bad. Maybe LR’s confronting a cleanup effort more substantive than he anticipated. How USC showed at the CAL game was an amazing glimpse into how Trojan football had been pushed to the brink.
LR cutting deep, wide and ruthlessly. I think that’s exactly what’s needed. How many times in the past has the team tried soft reboots, coddling upperclassmen, promising this and that, only to utterly fail on the field. For LR, now is the time to do it before he establishes any meaningful relationships with the players already here. The longer you wait only makes it harder to cut loose players or tell them the straight truth. I’m sure there are lots of good and likeable kids on the team, but if they don’t fit LR’s mold, the sooner (no pun intended)… Read more »
Anyone out there, if a player enters the portal does the team have to take them back if the player doesn’t get picked up?
I don’t think so. I think a lot of kids get left in the Portal because it’s a considerable risk for some.
LR is filling spots pretty quickly as they leave so it doesn’t seem like they will be welcomed back.
Update Rule Change: If a student puts his/her name in the transfer portal they risk losing their scholarship with their current school. I found an NCAA document that outlines the rules. I will see if can post it for everyone to see.
I think that might be tough to do in many circumstances. It would be interesting to know what happens in reality with the huge number of Portal entrants who can’t land somewhere.
I wonder how many USC players will be back? Would you come back if you knew the team’s coaches had no plans for your success there?
Allen, Right now sure looks like Williams and his WR are coming next year. Along with the MD frosh WR and the UW WR coming, the existing WRs will need to step up drastically to see PT. My guess is we are going to see both OL and WR transfer in. Based in Michigan State getting 25 transfers this year, I think the rule is you get those who transferred out plus 7. If I have it right, there is a ton of room for transfers in.
SC had 96 scholarship players this year due Covid exemptions. They will have to get down to 85 for ’22.
USC has been WR and QB U ever since we stopped being Tailback U.
With a guy like LR, USC can again recruit truly elite prep RBs in an offense that still passes a lot.
The CFB is now USC’s oyster. That’s how I see it. So much optimism abounds at USC now. It’s just great to see.
John, I thought the rule was that once a player enters the portal, the school can then terminate his scholarship at the end of that semester. Do I have it wrong?
Update Rule Change: If a student puts his/her name in the transfer portal they risk losing their scholarship with their current school. I found an NCAA document that outlines the rules. I will see if can post it for everyone to see.
Click Here for NCAA Document on New Portal Rules.
Jaxon Dart enters the Portal? If so, LR is really clearing the house for his type of athletes. Maybe Dart has been told he should consider looking elsewhere as Caleb Williams is coming and will be the man? We will no doubt be seeing a dual threat QB under Riley?
Smart move by Dart. If he leaves, I predict he’ll end up at a big brand school.
Slovis — PITT
Will Dart sign with a better, more successful program? Interesting juxtaposition of these two USC football casualties.
Allen, You are suffering Helton PTSD. SC is not the better more successful program. I see Dart taking the money and going to the SEC. He is probably a great fit for Auburn or Ole Miss. And, they will pay at least $1 Million for his services. With Williams at SC, Dart would not have played and got paid zero. And, yes, it is a very smart move by Dart (and I would be shocked if he was not told Caleb is coming).
Ya, I expect Dart to land at a better program than USC pre-Riley, and probably somewhere better than PITT where Slovis now is. But now that USC has LR, it’s back in the saddle again amongst the tops of CFB. Just a matter of time. You know it.
With Caleb and Mario Williams this means the starting QB and top receiver already know LR’s offense, playbook, play calls and all the jargon that goes with that. No learning curve!
USC is now #5 in the new AP basketball poll.
Here is the top 5: Baylor, Gonzaga, UCLA, Auburn and USC
While I am excited about the recognition I do believe it is a little premature but I would be happy if they prove me wrong. I see us somewhere around #10-#15 based on quality of competition.
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I think this is a great assessment, mostly because I’ve been saying the same thing. IF Boogie returns to early-season scoring form and other trends continue ( Free throws continue to improve, White heals up and heats up like he showed glimpses of against Cal) and the team peaks at tournament time, I’ll change my story. After watching Duke versus Gonzaga, I saw how much room for growth the team has. I’m looking forward to this team running on all 10 cylinders at the same time. All I want for Christmas is a Final Four banner! What exciting, interesting times… Read more »
Not a day goes by without some big news. Looks like Caleb Williams is in and Dart us out. Wonder if Moss is right behind him?
I think Moss hangs around. He moves into #2 spot and is only an injury away from being the starter. Question is whether he sticks around when the 5 Star comes on board in 2023.
Things are really heating up under LR.
Come on Caleb. USC is the place for you now, and you know it. And bring along your pal Mario. You guys can see that USC, currently the nation’s most interesting program, is the place to be now.
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According to Twitter, both the Williams’s players were at the Rams game and a Lakers game yesterday. Few cities can court athletes with that kind of experience.
Well Norman certainly can’t
With both Williams’ coming that leaves 2 portal spots left. I hope they are filled by quality O Linemen for Caleb’s sake.
With commit CJ Williams, this is becoming the “Williams Offense”.
This also means with Dart out, 6 total scholarships left for 2022
Observing USC football is just crazy at this wonderful period of time. I’m excited every day about new news leaking out. After the long drought, us Trojan fans have been through feelings a lot of us just aren’t used to about USC.
Is the Trojan recovery bringing out PTSD? Only in the best sense for me, which for now still includes chaos.
Cowherd just mentioned this too.
Per 247 Sports Jaxson Dart has entered the portal. Things remain interesting at USC.
Jaxson Dart looked amazing in first game for the Trojans but after his injury he looked very pedestrian. I have to think that he is looking for someplace with a better offensive line. I think he is another QB casualty of the Helton football culture. I wish him well.
Raiders! My guys are in the playoffs.
Crazy afternoon and evening of football with both 49ers and Raiders playing their way in to the playoffs in OT.
Chris, That was the greatest pro game I have ever seen! Herbert’s play on that last drive in regulation was unbelievable. His throw to Mike Williams as time ran out was one of the best I have ever seen – it was a 30 yard fast ball thrown on a rope about 2 feet from the ground that could not have been 6 inches to the right or left or up or down. Williams was double covered; if it had been thrown higher, it would have been knocked down; if it were thrown a tad to the right or left… Read more »
Edge Uchenna Nwosu is singlehandedly smashing the Raiders in a losing cause so far, 7-10, with 9 mins to go in the 2nd Q.
I sometimes think of Nwosu’s miraculous goal-line stop against STAN that helped USC win (I think).
The Rams are killing me! When you blow a 17-0 lead, and allow the Niners to go 88 yards in the final 2 minutes with no timeouts, to tie, it is truly Chargeresque! They truly are the Niners B——!
Just watching these two teams play is like being in a carny voodoo tent with a wacky fortune-teller who you just know is going to tell you you’ll live until 88, and run into a large pile of money from a mysterious source. You’re amused but doubtful. The 49ers are the fortune teller vs the Rams. They hold all the cards these days when the teams face each other. Matthew Stafford hasn’t done what he was brought aboard to do, let’s face it. That final disastrous underthrow to OBJ for the walk-off pick pretty much shows why the Rams aren’t… Read more »
Yeah, Stafford is Goff 2.0, IMO. Just a hair better. If the Rams can’t run the ball effectively and play better defense, they aren’t going to go far, maybe a game or two, in the playoffs. I did see Nightmare Alley. Good cast with some really good performances, and it looked good cinematically, but not a great movie
49ers 27 Rams 24 in overtime!!!
My favorite Lincoln Riley/Mike Bohn photo:
There are strong rumors that the OU QB and stud WR is meeting with Lincoln and seriously considering SC. Apparently they are a package deal.
Wonder if LR hosted them in a lux box at the Rams game today in clandestine fashion.
It has been confirmed the WR Mario Williams is in LA meeting with Lincoln.
Amon-ra St Brown sure was a steal for the Lions in the Fourth round. He’s already playing at a Pro Bowl level. He and Pittman are sure representing SC well
Amon-Ra was usually an awesome player for USC IMO. You always knew you were getting his best and he was ready. He plays like he loves the game.
He was pro ready from day one at USC. I think CJ is cut from the same clothe.
Speaking of Todd Orlando, this just in:
Bruce Feldman @BruceFeldmanCFB
SOURCE: Former USC defensive coordinator Todd Orlando is expected to become the new DC at FAU. He’s been a DC at UConn, FIU, Utah State, Texas, Houston, and USC.
Go Willie Taggart!
My condolences to FAU
In two years he will be looking for DC job #8. Perhaps he just needs to coach linebackers and leave the defensive genius stuff to others. I call him Two Year Todd.
We have hook up Two Year Todd with Seven Win Sark! 😃
Call them Never Win Nine!
Just a thought. The 2020 OL coach takes a OL job at a Power 5 school (WSU) and the RB coach gets a job at high level non-Power 5 team (Houston), yet the OC goes unhired. Boy, did GH ever mess up his career by joining the Cat and taking a job for which he was not ready.
Ya, you could say Graham Harrell really “screwed the pooch” at USC. I never heard that term until I first read it in Tom Wolfe’s The Right Stuff. That was Wolfe’s classic description of what the American astronaut did when he accidentally blew the hatch open too early and his just landed capsule flooded and immed sank to the bottom of the sea. I was actually starting to buy into the GH baby genius talk until his Air Raid version started to completely fall apart at USC. I’m sure GH will land somewhere and he can try to rebuild himself… Read more »
Young genius or not, when your offense is so reliant of the passing game, you still have to have the athletes to pull it off. GH never had an OL he could rely on to give his QB time to find the open receiver on any given play. But still, GH never created plays rolling out the QB to escape defenses constantly overpowering the OL or quick swing passes to RBs. After Darnold, CH couldn’t or wouldn’t try recruiting QBs who had scrambling ability. Keep making the same mistakes but expecting different results.
Jamaica, Good morning from Frisco, TX. While it is totally irrelevant, I thought that GH simply failed to understand the importance of the OL. Please remember, his first year, he had three (counting London) starting NFL WRs and TWO NFL first round OL. My guess is the reason Slovis did so well that year is because of overwhelming talent on O. So, he had talent on the OL, but squandered it. He had an awful OL coach in Drevno (notice in two years, Drevno has been unable to get a job as an OL coach anywhere – he is an… Read more »
How could GH not understand how important an OL is? That just seems nonsensical to me. I was always a RB, as far back as Pop Warner when I was 12 years old, and it was always very obvious that I was gonna be stopped in my tracks without decent holes to hit. Then, the more you play as a teenager, the more every single player on the team knows the entire OL is always critical to moving the ball, or protecting your QB. My coaches at least always emphasized the importance of the blockers up front. Helton brought in… Read more »
Bad writing by me. Everyone knows the OL is important to an O. I think that when GH arrived, he had a specific view of how to run an offense that was extremely flawed. It emphasized simplicity and repetition based around the passing game and with a very simple run game (based around 4 plays). So, for GH, the OL had to learn to pass block and then to execute 4 run plays. The problem was he had an OL coach who simply did not understand or was able to teach the OL techniques needed for GH’s view of the… Read more »
The Cat couldn’t attract quality coaches because he is an average coach himself. The Cat couldn’t recruit top tier OL because he ran a soft program. Good O Linemen know what it takes to be good, hard work, and that requires discipline and accountability. With no OL GH is stuck running 7 on 7 offense. If he gets a chance to work with a tough discipline minded HC he may do well. 5 years from now he will have “former USC OC” on his resume which will look great to any AD with a short memory.
If it was offered, the best career move GH could have made was NOT go with CH to GSU.
I feel Harrell will sit out a year on SC’s dime rather than take a G5 position which would downgrade his creds….he’s flopped in the P5.
maybe he needs Sexton as an agent.
Thanks for the great blog, Allen. I haven’t followed the SC forums, news and recruiting for some time while dealing with life and startups. 2 quick questions for you, if you are willing and able:
1) I see SC mentioned in recruit choices in the All American bowl, as noted in your article. Was SC being a contender for these players a lot more rare the last few years?
2) Is there some incarnation of Superprep today, and if so, what is it called.?
Thanks and thanks for bloggiging these exciting times for SC.
Welcome to the Blog!
Thank you!
Thanks for checking us out @Rockazar. ✌ 1) Yes, under Helton, USC’s recruiting reach sadly dropped off drastically at most every position. Just for the purpose of rankings, USC was pegged at around an unheard of #105 before Lincoln Riley came aboard. With only eight 2022 signees, and most of Helton’s recruits moved out, Rivals now already has USC at #49 (4th in the Pac-12 I think), and Riley was able to do this all while building his staff over the last month, which hit some rockpiles if you followed it. And LR’s class of ’23 is suddenly now #4… Read more »
Thanks for the reply. I thought you might have gone digital and sold to one of the online companies. Keep up the great work. Fun times are here again!🤞✌️
And just for trivial fun, Rockazar was a horse trotted out at SC games before Traveler became the mascot.
I transitioned SuperPrep to the Internet starting back in the mid-90’s and eventually merged my product (like a license in some ways, not others) with Scout.com where I was the national recruiting editor for about 12 years.
What a great name you picked as your TDB moniker! I wondered where you came up with that. Little did I know you had such a tremendous backstory.
Yes! Scout is what I was looking for.
I read about the mascot on some history page, maybe off some iteration of the official site’s history page I read about 20 years ago as a student. I really like that stuff and think the history and color from past years is a valuable unused asset. I mean what good is a storied program if the only part of the stories we use are in stats? That’s a project for the future.
I’m totally into Trojan history too. A couple of my best friends were children of USC All-Americas who played for Howard Jones in the ’20s and ’30s. I’d be at their houses sometimes pouring through these ancient scrapbooks about the Thundering Herd and all.
Frankly, it was that amazing Trojan history and tradition that always had me thinking that USC’s leadership would simply be forced to try hard, at any cost, to fix USC football once The Cat Helton could simply no longer be tolerated. Lo and behold, it finally happened! ✌
Those scrapbooks sound amazing!
One last question for you today, please. Is Helton the The Cat because he has 9 lives? Ha! I’ve seen him called Gomer [Pyle] elsewhere.
Yep. Clay was the luckiest coach alive. He could float along like nobody’s business. While he sure wasn’t Teflon, he somehow escaped over and over again, until he finally got beat real bad again by another lucky coach, David Shaw.
Hey Rockazar, check out 247 sports. They have recruiting covered soup to nuts.
I was just looking at doing that. I used to post there in the late 90s and early 2000s.
I always felt Rivals the better site in the 90’s over Scout (even though our fan page on Scout.com “SCPlaybook” the best and we all had fun 🙂
Still look at Rivals a lot too in addition to 247.
Allen’s blog here still the best for USC
Welcome, DbackTrojan20. Great to hear from you. Fight On! ✌
Thanks Allen long time reader finally signed up 😊✌🏼
Perfect time, wouldn’t you agree?
Beyond! LoL ✌🏼
I was that guy too for longer than I should have been. This is the only forum/blog/social-media site of any sort that I post to. Lots of smart insightful folks here, and if you take the collective pulse on any particular thread, you will have a very accurate assessment of the state of Trojan nation. Looking forward to your contributions too.
Welcome to the Blog.
I was on several, including the ones you mentioned, Wild West and TFO (Trojan Football Online.) Each one has it’s own cast of characters and flavor. I kinda miss the more wild free-for-all it was back then. But things seem pretty good today, also.
Welcome Rockazar. I freely admit that the TDB is the first news site I hit with my first cup of pick-me-up every morning. If I had to go without one of the two, I’m not sure which it would be.
Thanks for the welcome! I’ve added TDB to my routine as well. I have returned to visiting fighton.com, the USC links page, and get to my favorite sites. I wished I had clicked here years ago.
RB/ATH Rayshon Luke, who chose ARIZ over UCLA, has been named the All-American Bowl MVP.
Final All-American game commitment of the day — St. Louis WR Kevin Coleman committed to over JAX ST (Primetime) over ASU, FSU (supposed frontrunner), MIA, ORE and USC.
LV Bishop Gorman DE Cyrus Moss (#1 in Nevada) committed to MIA over USC, ALA, ASU and ORE. Mario Cristobal was the main factor.
DL Hero Kanu (only been in U.S. since 2020 from Germany) committed to OHIO ST over GA, ND and USC.
Mission Hills Bishop Alemany DB Larry Turner-Gooden has committed to TEXAS over PSU, CU, MARYD and USC.
“Coach Sark is like a mentor to me. I treat him like he’s my second father.”
I don’t get it. Sark must be a hypnotist. It’s not even clear he will still be at Texas in 2 years!
Rivals has now moved USC’s ’22 recruiting class up to #49 (8 commits) with the addition of C.J. Williams to the Trojan horde.
Another amazing catch by C.J. Williams in the All-American Bowl. It really looks like this guy could be special and ready to contribute very early. He’s had three acrobatic catches already.