Not 'wasting' Caleb Williams is goal for USC

On3’s college football expert, J.D. PicKell, has had his hands full covering all the big-name stories in the game ahead of the start of the 2023 season. And recently, he tackled the expectation surrounding the USC Trojans and their star quarterback Caleb Williams. While the forecast on the Trojans season is reminiscent of a summer day a Venice Beach, PicKell has an ominous warning for the program.

“Everyone in Los Angeles is saying this had better be the year. You know why? Because Caleb Williams is there for one more season; it’s no secret,” said PicKell. “Caleb Williams is gone to the league after this year. I don’t care how much eligibility he has; he’s going to be the top pick taken in the draft. And so for USC, the task before them is can you make sure that you don’t waste the opportunity of having Caleb Williams on your roster?”

Williams is viewed by many as the top college football player heading into the 2023 season. Only North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye is mentioned in the same category as Williams, but there is believed to be some separation between those two too. He’s also seen as the virtual consensus way-too-early No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. 

“If everything rode on Caleb Williams, if everything was placed on his shoulders, he is a good enough quarterback to win a national title for you. Now the beautiful part about football is there are 10 other guys on that field and eleven other guys on your defense that have to do their job. And you noticed Lincoln Riley went to the portal and got to work in there. I mean, they added some key pieces Anthony Lucas from Texas A&M, (and) Bear Alexander from Georgia, on the defensive line because the defense last year (was) not up to what the offense is bringing. (They) allowed almost 30 points a game, (and) 160 rush yards a game; they were 103rd in the country in terms of the loud conversions on third down, they were 101st in the country in terms of yards allowed per game.

“So, the defense is not holding up their end of the bargain. And the last thing you want to say as a USC fan is, ‘Man, that was awesome. We had Caleb Williams on our team for a little bit. He won a Heisman Trophy.’ You don’t want to say he did so many good things. And then they ask you how your team did, and you say, ‘Yeah, well, the team wasn’t really up to par with Caleb Williams.'”

Before Williams declares for the draft, he could likely add to his college hardware, earning a few more awards and possibly ending his time at USC as a back-to-back Heisman Trophy winner. But that’s not what the Trojans’ quarterback really wants. As he lamented during his Heisman speech, Willams wants that national championship trophy and Riley has been doing everything in his power to make that happen.

“I know it’s only year two for Lincoln Riley, but the portal exists, and he’s gone to work in there and gotten what he’s wanted. This is what USC has built towards a year like this and a roster like this where they compete for the national title. Because it ain’t getting any easier. You’re going to the Big Ten in 2024, and the College Football Playoff expands in 2024.

“Right now, you got the quarterback. To be 100 percent honest with you, you got the path there within the Pac-12. This is your opportunity. This is the window for you; make it happen.”