Lincoln Riley praises Caleb Williams: 'There's no one else in the country I'd rather go to war with'

USC QB Caleb Williams was the catalyst for the Trojans last fall. After transferring to Los Angeles from Oklahoma with Lincoln Riley, he posted a Heisman Trophy campaign and led the program to one of its best seasons in the past decade.

That’s why, while at Pac-12 Media Days today, Riley had nothing but continued praise for his QB1. He started by reminding everyone of just how crucial that Williams was in solidifying the transition into his tenure as head coach and the philosophy that comes with it.

“He’s obviously been a key factor in this from a lot of different ways. I think the situation last year? He, obviously, did a great job and was important for our program,” Riley said. “Also, I think for his learning and his growth? It was a great situation for him to be in as well. He was challenged to not only just play a full season but to lead. And really help jumpstart a program, jumpstart an offense, jumpstart a culture. He did a tremendous job.”

Williams threw for over 4,500 passing yards and 42 touchdowns last season on a 66.6% completion rate. That production sent him to New York where he hoisted the Heisman. It also sent USC to an 11-3 record, including appearances in the Pac-12 Championship and the Cotton Bowl.

Of all the great quarterbacks in the Pac-12, and the nation these days, that’s why Riley is happy to hitch his wagon to Williams or vice versa. After two seasons with Williams running his offense, Riley knows the player and competitor he is and knows that even more will come his way this upcoming season.

“The quarterback position is probably, singularly the most important position in football,” said Riley. “We have a great quarterback. And we’re going to play a lot of great quarterbacks this season, which is obviously one of the strengths of this league.”

“Listen, there’s nobody else in the country that I would rather go to war with than that guy,” Riley stated. “His toughness, his ability to lead. His ability, despite any of the good things that have happened for him or his teams, to continue to want to climb and get better? The hunger to do that is very apparent on a day-to-day basis.”

Williams helped put USC in a position to win titles in 2022. Instead, with their loss to Utah in the conference championship, the Trojans were unable to claim either for themselves. That was before they eventually lost to Tulane to close their season in Arlington.

For all the individual success, Riley says Williams now wants to officially define himself in 2023. That desire should lead to another great season from Williams and USC which, as head coach, Riley is all in on.

“Great quarterbacks, at the end of the day, get defined by their team success, their championships. And I know he’s very hungry to go close out this year with both,” said Riley.