ESPN analyst lays out factors for Caleb Williams transfer

The biggest named player to enter the transfer portal this cycle is still on the market. Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams has yet to make a decision and is still weighing his options on where he will continue his collegiate career.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel was on Sportscenter on Wednesday and laid out what factor Williams and his family are taking into consideration during the process. He said setting the quarterback up for success at the next level is the top priority and not sponsorship deals.

“So far, he’s visited USC and UCLA but he’s been on Zooms with a dozen other schools,” Thamel said. “The family is weighing their options and Carl Williams, his dad, told me last night NFL, not NIL, is the guiding light of what the family is doing. Meaning — they want to go to the place where he’s best prepared to go to the NFL and ultimately be the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft.”

Williams was considered one of the favorites to be the top pick in the draft before he inserted his name in the transfer portal. Being the No. 1 player according to On3 from the 2021 class, the quarterback has been seen as a top prospect for some time.

However, getting there can be a different story. Williams and his family will want to find a coach that they can trust to get him to the next level. And they seem set to do it within the next two years and have Williams declare as an underclassman.

Bruce Feldman names team to beat for Caleb Williams

Bruce Feldman of The Athletic weighed in on the Williams transfer situation himself. He said USC would be a tough team to beat, reconnecting the quarterback with his former Oklahoma head coach, Lincoln Riley.

“I think they’re the team to beat for him,” Feldman said when asked about USC’s chances at landing Williams. “He bought into Lincoln Riley a couple of years ago. And look, Lincoln Riley has three starting quarterbacks in the NFL right now – Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and Jalen Hurts – that he has helped develop. There’s an aspect of a blank canvas and you can come into Southern California. You know what you’re getting with Lincoln Riley. Who would come with him?”

Williams has stated he is loyal to Riley and the head coach is one of the main reasons Oklahoma was the choice out of high school. Heading out west to follow the new USC headman has a proven track record of getting selected high in the NFL draft.