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Caleb Williams Wins ESPY for Best Male College Athlete

Erik-McKinneyby:Erik McKinney•07/12/23•

ErikTMcKinney

USC QB Caleb Williams
Allen J. Schaben | Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Caleb Williams is getting used to hoisting hardware. The standout quarterback won college football’s most prestigious individual award this past December, taking home the Heisman Trophy. Wednesday night, he added an ESPY to his growing collection. Williams was named the Best College Athlete, Men’s Sports, at the 2023 ESPY Awards.

Williams beat out a field that included Zach Edey of Purdue basketball, Duncan McGuire of Creighton soccer and Brennan O’Neill of Duke Lacrosse.

In addition to the Heisman and now the ESPY, Williams also was named the 2022 Walter Camp Player of the Year, 2022 AP Player of the Year, and won the 2022 Maxwell Award.

Williams, a Unanimous First-Team All-American in 2022, set a number of USC records in his first season in cardinal and gold. He set USC single-season records for total offense, touchdowns rushing and passing, completions, passing yards, passing touchdowns, lowest interception rate and highest passing efficiency rating. Williams also set the single-game record for total yards with 503 against UCLA.

He led the nation in passing touchdowns with 42 and threw just five interceptions. He finished third nationally in passing yards and fifth in passing efficiency and total offense.

Williams is the first USC Trojan to win the ESPY for Best College Athlete, Men’s Sports since Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush won back-to-back in 2005 and 2006.

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Garry Paskwietz (1966-2019)

Garry Paskwietz was a pioneer in bringing team-specific sports coverage to the internet. He founded WeAreSC in 1998 and was an Emmy winner for his work with Fox Sports West. Always generous with his time, knowledge, and compassion, he touched the lives of countless USC and high school football fans.

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