Caleb Williams shares impressions of Utah's defense
Caleb Williams and the USC Trojans will look to bounce back and wash the bad taste out of their mouths from last weekend following a disappointing 48-20 loss to rival Notre Dame. But that bounce back will not be easy, as they host the No. 14 ranked Utah Utes this Saturday.
Williams will square off with Utah’s defense on Saturday, a unit that has been impressive all season. Giving his thoughts on what they bring to the table ahead of their marquee Pac-12 matchup this weekend.
“Got a good team, same DC, same kind of defense,” Williams said. “Good players that are excited to play and get out there and we’re also excited to get out there.”
Utah defense coordinator Morgan Scalley is in the midst of his eighth season on the job and has been with the program his entire coaching career since 2007, even playing defensive back for the Utes in the early 2000s. And per usual, his defense yet again is prolific, and arguably the best it’s been during his tenure.
The Utes’ defense has ranked at the top of the Pac-12 conference in the past two seasons, but this year they’ve taken their game to another level holding opponents to 12.2 points and 277.8 yards per game, remaining atop the conference and ranking nationally as one of the best defenses across all of college football.
“Obviously they’ve changed a few things, changing personnels and things like that throughout the whole transfer portal process and all of that, Williams said. “So they’ve got a few new players and cornerbacks and things like that, whatever the case may be.”
Utah has had the Trojans’ number in recent history, facing USC twice last season and defeating them on both occasions. In the regular season, a touchdown and a successful two-point conversion attempt with under a minute left in the game pushed the Utes passed the Trojans. The two met again in the Pac-12 Championship game where a hobbled Williams didn’t stand a chance in a 47-24 loss.
“But they’re an excited team, they got a lot ahead of them. They’re a good defense by a good coach, so we got a lot on our hands and we’re excited for them,” Williams said.
Williams and the Trojans will look to prove that this year’s team is not the same as lasts, as they host Utah this Saturday at 8:00 p.m. ET in a game airing on FOX.