Could Caleb Williams reunite with Kliff Kingsbury in the NFL? Lincoln Riley would ‘love’ it…
Chuck Schilken (LA Times) — Kliff Kingsbury is getting another shot in the NFL, and Caleb Williams is happy for him.
Nothing more to be read into this at all.
Williams just happens to be a former USC quarterback and is expected to be one of the top picks in this year’s NFL draft, possibly #1 in a QB-heavy field.
And Kingsbury just happens to have worked closely with Williams last season as USC’s senior offensive analyst and has been hired as the Washington Commanders offensive coordinator, after pulling out of the Las Vegas Raiders OC job at the last second.
And the Commanders just happen to hold the No. 2 overall draft pick.
So, yeah, when Williams took to his Instagram Stories on Sunday night to post a photo of Kingsbury in Commanders gear and the message “My dawg congrats,” there was absolutely no online speculation as to what it all meant. Yeah, right.
2022 Heisman winner Williams played well this past season under Kingsbury’s tutelage, throwing for 3,633 yards and 30 touchdowns, while only tossing five interceptions, and adding 136 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. USC did not live up to expectations as a team, but Williams did his part.
Kingsbury famously was USC’s offensive coordinator for 34 days during the 2019 offseason before bolting for the NFL to claim the same position for the Arizona Cardinals. Known as a quarterback guru for his work with such accomplished passers as Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, Kingsbury returned to USC last season to work with Trojans quarterbacks in a support role under coach Lincoln Riley.
“They have a great relationship. It was awesome for Caleb to have Kliff,” Riley told “Good Morning Football” on Monday. “In a perfect world would I love a reunion for them? That would be great. But we all know a lot would transpire between now and the draft.”
Riley is right about that — a lot would have to happen for the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner to be reunited with his “dawg” in D.C. The Chicago Bears hold the No. 1 overall pick and would likely demand quite a bit from Washington to switch places in April’s draft and ensure Williams will be on the board when the Commanders make their selection.
There is some serious debate about what the Bears will do since they already have Justin Fields and have supported him publicly, but that could just be a result of the team trying to boost his value ahead of trading him this offseason and drafting Williams. While Fields is a great runner, he has not developed much as a passer. Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye could also be options for Chicago.
Plus, Dan Quinn was hired as the Commanders’ head coach late last week and may not have his head wrapped around exactly what direction he wants to take the team just yet. General manager Adam Peters, a walk-on defensive end at UCLA in 2001 and 2002, is new in town too, and the ownership group that is led by Josh Harris and includes Magic Johnson has only been in place for just over six months.
So go ahead and speculate all you want. It may not amount to anything, but with only Super Bowl LVIII left to play in the NFL season, many eyes will be on whether Williams will be paired up again with Kingsbury in Washington, or if he can finally land as the once-in-a-generation QB savior Chicago has been longing for.
latimes.com
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USC loses to CAL in Berkeley 84-77 in OT. The Bears end an 11-game losing streak to USC.
The final season of the end of Andy’s career at SC is playing itself out. He is now a zombie coach. His time at SC is over. He may stay for a year or two as a zombie, but his time at SC is done.
Hopefully Jen Cohen pulls the trigger by mid March. Also hope she doesn’t pick a one season wonder out of this year’s March Madness like SC did with Enfield.
SC had a 15 year drought on DL till Tuli Tuipulotu drafted last year by the Chargers.
LR with USC’s newest OLB, MICH ST decommit Jadyn Walker (6-3, 210; converted WR), a very physical, disruptive, versatile playmaker on tape.
If 3-star Walker’s ability and performance are representative of most members of this 2024 class (the new type of USC target), including transfers, it’s unquestionably noticeably under-rated (247’s too low composite #17 for preps).
Allen, greatly appreciate your expert opinion on this class. Please remember, I am still at 8-4 and unranked for the 2024 team. But, I agree that this team has significantly improved both the coaching staff and the talent over last year, particularly on the D. How it works out in 2024 is the issue. And, I agree, SC will be very interesting to watch this year. I think the 2024 team will actually improve from week to week. Did not happen the last two years, particularly on D. Under Grinch, in both 2022 and 2023, the D actually got worse… Read more »
There’s just no other draftable QB like Caleb Williams this year NFL Reporter Albert Breer — “The only way I could see Chicago sticking with Justin Fields would be if Caleb Williams were to put his foot in the ground and pull an Eli Manning, like he did in 2004, and say, ‘No way, I’m not playing there.’ “Maybe in that scenario, the Bears are not in love enough with Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels where they would say yes, they’re going to invest in this guy and go ahead and trade Justin Fields. “I just think Caleb Williams is… Read more »
Nick Saban begins third act of football career and joins ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ as Analyst after Alabama retirement
Timothy Rapp (B/R) — ESPN announced Wednesday that the legendary HC will be joining College GameDay as an analyst, a huge addition to the show given Saban’s wealth of football knowledge.
“ESPN and College GameDay have played such an important role in the growth of college football, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to join their team,” he said in a statement. “I’ll do my best to offer additional insights and perspectives to contribute to College GameDay, the ultimate Saturday tradition for college football fans.”
bleacherreport.com
As I continue to “cry me a river” for UCLA football. On National Letter of Intent signing day, the UCLA head coach is out interviewing for the OC position with the Seattle Seahawks. That certainly has to help recruiting!
It’s hard to believe this chump Kelly and his mediocre going-nowhere outfit brutalized USC and LR on the field last season, 38-20 — and it wasn’t even that close. Definitely one of the low points of USC football I have ever witnessed.
LR has done well to address his deficiencies since that humbling blowout at the Coliseum.
This upcoming 2024 team should be very fun to watch, regardless of its W/L record. So many new interesting parts.
I agree that the UCLA game was a rout of a good SC team by a mediocre UCLA team. UCLA was ready to play, SC was not. I think by the UCLA game, LR had lost the team; it just simply did not show up against UCLA. I think that Grinch still being the DC had a lot to do with that as LR regained the team after Grinch was fired and the team prepped for the Holiday Bowl. In fact, after the team just plain quit on him against a rival, the Holiday Bowl was a huge game for… Read more »
USC safety Kamari Ramsey named Big Ten 2024 big impact transfer per CBS Chris Trevino (247Sports.com) — The complete overhaul of the Trojans’ defense will decide this team’s fate in 2024, so Ramsey (6-1, 205) should have a big impact. He comes to USC from across town at UCLA and is well-versed with new DC D’Anton Lynn’s scheme. Ramsey started a redshirt frosh in 11 games had 40 tackles and four passes defended last season for the Bruins and will be a tone-setter with the new-look Trojans defense. Ramsey missed just three tackles on the season for a 6.3 missed… Read more »
Ran into a kid I coached who is playing football at big sky level. I coached him in basketball, but he was a football player through and through. Anyway, 6’6” kid who was 225 as a high school senior, he is now 265 after freshman year of football. Hoping to be 280 by start of season. Crazy how fast they can add that weight, he is on 7000 calorie a day diet.
Interesting that for all the talk of pay for play at Oregon, they have yet to sign a 5 star recruit. Georgia and Alabama have 5 each, other schools that get a 5*are getting one or two.
Update, Ohio St and Texas have 4 five stars, Miami with 3. The 5 programs that must have the most robust pay for play.
GT,, in 2023, Maimi has a much worse year than SC. Yet look what a robust high school player “pay for play” NIL can produce. So, if you want “proof of concept” on the impact of a robust “pay for play” NIL to high school kids, simply look at Miami versus SC. Miami has one of the most robust high school player “pay for play” NIL in the nation, and SC simply does not offer that type of NIL to high school kids. Let’s see how it plays out over the next few years! And, to be honest, I think… Read more »
Players still want to play for the best coaches, which has been a big USC problem lately, even under LR.
The new coaching faces at USC will help USC immensely, regardless of NIL strength. It’s called foundation.
Another big-time local prospect becomes a USC Trojan
“I grew up a USC fan,” four-star Los Alamitos CB Isaiah Rubin said when he committed last Oct. “Me and my dad both grew up fans and it was always the dream for me to go and play at USC and be a Trojan one day so this is definitely an exciting time for me.”
Chip Kelly’s still looking for another job, this time as the Seahawks’ new OC on Mike Macdonald’s new staff
Adam Wells (B/R) — Per The Ringer’s Benjamin Solak, UCLA HC Chip Kelly interviewed with the Seahawks about their offensive coordinator position on Tuesday night.
bleacherreport.com
Scott Schrader (on3.com) — Portage (MI) LB Jadyn Walker (6-3, 210) has signed his LOI this morning with USC. WeAreSC had submitted predictions for USC in the past few weeks. Walker is expected to play at WILL LB for the Trojans.
on3.com
I’m not going to speculate what will happen in the NFL Draft and what Chicago will do with the #1 pick. Fields seemed to turn things around in the later part of the NFL season and the team has publicly supported him. I could see the Bears hanging on to him and drafting the WR Harrison #`1. I could also see where the Bears trade the #1 pick for a boatload of draft picks and/or other compensation. That would give the Washington Commanders the ability to draft Caleb. I have never liked Kingsbury after he snubbed USC back in 2019… Read more »
It would be interesting to see what the “contractual hangup” was that led to the final split between the Raiders and Kingsbury. That’s how I interpreted Kingsbury’s move. If the lawyers can’t agree at the end on the exact terms, better to resolve it early than too late when the mess can’t be cleaned up without a massive ordeal, especially if Dan Quinn wants you in Washington when guys like Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll suddenly are out of the game. I never held Kingsbury’s flip-flop on USC against him. What would you do? Take a suddenly available NFL head… Read more »
If I were Kingsbury, I would have done the same as he did by jumping to the NFL as a HC. I just had my hopes up back in 2019 that as the OC he could get USC out of being mediocre under Helton. I guess my disappointment is still lingering for some reason and I shouldn’t hold that against Kingsbury. Thank God, Bohn fired Helton and LR was hired. I don’t wish ill will on anyone and hope Kingsbury does well as OC under Dan Quinn. It will be very interesting if Washington is able to land Caleb Williams… Read more »
Sam Darnold spends a couple of minutes with Arash Markazi explaining what it’s been like to be with the Niners on their way to the Super Bowl and his future. “It’s been awesome to be able to learn this much from the coaches and even the players as well. Seeing what he (Kyle Shanahan) thinks about defenses, I’ve learned a ton. I’ve learned so much this year on that end. It’s been amazing to see the hard work and the sustained success from the offense, defense, and special teams as well. It’s hard to put into words what everyone sacrifices… Read more »
Former UW DL signee Ratumana Bulabalavu flips to USC over UTAH Greg Biggins (247Sports.com) — Carlsbad (Calif.) Army and Navy Academy defensive lineman Ratumana Bulabalavu (4-stars; 6-4, 240) has committed to USC — and also signed with the Trojans on Wednesday morning. Bulabalavu was an early commitment to Washington and signed with the Huskies during the Early Period in December. He decommitted from the Huskies two weeks ago and took official visits to UTAH and USC over the last week before committing to the Trojans. “It’s USC for me, I’m going to be a Trojan,” Bulabalavu said. “I really loved UTAH… Read more »
Ezra Frech competes in the men’s high jump T63 final during the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics Games on Aug. 31, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. Frech, a world record holder in the T63 high jump, announced on Monday that he has committed to USC’s track and field team. According to Team USA, the 18-year-old is the first above-the-knee amputee in history to commit to a Division I track program. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Luca Evans (OC Register)
I hope team Caleb understands that his play regressed while under the wing of KK in the 2023 season. I would not go to the Washington Redskins for KK alone (and I know Caleb has much leverage as to what team he goes to–Chicago or the Redskins or whoever maneuvers for the first pick).
Maybe (or obviously?) there were just too many cooks in the USC QB kitchen.
I never understood how Lincoln Riley was supposed to share Caleb Williams with Kliff Kingsbury. I don’t think any of them understood it either.
Caleb seemed to do whatever he wanted, both pre and post-snap to his own detriment, despite these two controlling supposed QB Whisperers constantly in his ear. The result — a giant cluster with Caleb often desperate to get the play off in time, yet holding the ball too long.
Actually Doc, some of his stats were better in 2023, like QB rating and completion percentage. Anyway, in his college career: Caleb Williams – 67% completion percentage, 10,082 yards passing, 93 TD passes, 14 INT, 960 yards rushing on 289 attempts, 27 rushing TDs and a boatload of holy sh!t moments.