Lincoln Riley reveals three traits quarterbacks must have

Lincoln Riley knows a thing or two about identifying and developing elite quarterbacks. Since becoming a head coach in 2017, Riley has worked with two Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks in Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray.

Set to enter his first season as the coach at USC, Riley could have a third on his hand in Oklahoma transfer Caleb Williams, who followed him from Norman to Los Angeles. In an interview after a recent Trojans spring practice, the coach revealed the three traits he looks for when recruiting a quarterback.

“Winner,” Riley started off. “I would say toughness. I don’t think you can play this position well without being tough. Mentally, physically, all of the above. Then I think it’s some of your natural ability. Physically, can you do the things we ask you to do? Mentally, do you have a mind that can process the scheme quickly, pick up things? I would say in that order. Typically, if you do No. 2 and No. 3 well, your team wins a lot.”

Lincoln Riley developed a reputation as one of the nation’s while working as the Sooners coach, routinely bringing in five-star quarterbacks. In addition to signing Williams in 2021, Riley also recruited Spencer Rattler, the No. 1 quarterback in the 2019 class according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average.

The results were telling, as Oklahoma ranked as a top 25 passing offense in four of the five years with Riley as coach. The Sooners also won the Big 12 Championship in each of his first four seasons, but did not make the game in 2021.

At USC, Riley will be tasked with rebuilding a once proud program that has recently fallen off. After claiming seven consecutive conference titles from 2002-08, the Trojans have only one in the past 13 seasons. They have also finished with a losing record in two of the past four seasons, including 4-8 in 2021.

Riley’s high-powered offensive attack looks to change that and put them back in the national conversation. The coach has done his best to surround Williams, the No. 1 overall player in On3’s Transfer Portal Rankings, with talented targets, bringing in transfer receivers Mario Williams and Brenden Rice while also signing four-star Raleek Brown. However, Riley and the Trojans will ultimately go as far as their quarterback can take them in 2022.

USC is set to host its annual spring game on April 23 before opening the season on Sept. 3 against Rice.