Kirk Herbstreit evaluates Caleb Williams' performance in 2023

Though his 2023 season probably hasn’t gone quite as he wanted, there’s still no denying the sheer ability of 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams.

Williams’ team flopped out of College Football Playoff contention a few weeks ago, but Williams remains out there every week putting up huge numbers. It’s one of the reasons he’s a heavy favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

“Nobody embodies the direction of that position with college and NFL football more with his physical skillset than Caleb Williams,” ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit said on College GameDay on Saturday.

Williams has already thrown for 3,249 yards, with 29 touchdowns against just four interceptions. He has also run for 156 yards and 11 scores, proving he can get it done with his legs, too.

Still, a repeat Heisman Trophy appearance just doesn’t seem to be in the offing.

“I think (Desmond Howard) can understand this because he’s part of the fraternity,” Herbstreit said. “When you win the Heisman as an underclassman, there’s a reason there’s only been one guy that’s ever won two Heisman trophies, that being Archie Griffin, that was in a different era. That’s because the press and the media and the social media and the expectations are almost unrealistic.”

While Williams hasn’t shown a whole lot of outward frustration, there have been moments that indicate the gravity of the pressure he’s playing under. He has sobbed into his mother’s arms after various losses.

But what the Trojans need, Herbstreit explained, is not Williams trying to do it all. They just need him to play his game.

“I think Caleb Williams at times, going back to the game in South Bend, pressed,” Herbstreit said. “He tried to live up to what everybody thought of him, where he’s just a magic man, can do everything. And there’s a tendency when you do that to put yourself in a position where you’re turning the football over and then this thing started to spiral. They lost that game, lost to Washington, lost to Oregon.

“It is what it is, but it doesn’t take away from what he’s done and how talented he is physically.”