Caleb Williams Wins the 2022 Heisman Trophy
USC quarterback Caleb Williams is the winner of the 2022 Heisman Trophy, capping a phenomenal season for the best player in college football.
Williams was spectacular all season for the Trojans. He was a huge reason USC improved from 4-8 season to 11-2 this year. Williams joins John Huarte of Notre Dame as the only Heisman winners to engineer a seven-win turnaround from the previous season.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound quarterback set USC single-season records for total touchdowns and total yards this season. And his 503-yard performance against UCLA is a single-game record for the Trojans. He’s just 69 passing yards and three passing touchdowns shy of breaking USC’s single-season records in those categories as well.
He becomes the eighth USC Trojan to win the Heisman Trophy, which breaks a tie with Notre Dame, Ohio State and Oklahoma. Though, the Heisman Trust does not recognize the 2005 Heisman won by running back Reggie Bush. So official statistics will list USC with seven. Though, it was notable that the Heisman ceremony host, Chris Fowler, started the show by saying USC was going for a record eighth Heisman Trophy.
And USC, known for its long history of legendary, Heisman-winning running backs now joins Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame and Oklahoma as the only schools with three quarterback winners.
Winning the Heisman Trophy is a dream come true for Williams, who said he set his sights on the trophy before his teenage years but always pushed for team-oriented goals first. And if you’re still curious about why Williams won the award this year, take it from two of USC’s past winners. Quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart shared their thoughts this morning on what makes Williams unique and so special as a quarterback.
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Lincoln Riley and the Heisman Trophy
USC head coach Lincoln Riley isn’t just an offensive guru or a quarterback whisperer. He’s officially a Heisman-maker, if there were any doubts heading into this season. It’s true the players have to win the award on the field. But it’s impossible to deny the affect Riley has had on this trophy.
Of the past six winners, three have taken snaps in Riley’s offense.
Oklahoma quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray won the Heisman in 2017 and 2018. And now Williams hoists it in 2022. Riley is the first head coach in history to produce three Heisman Trophy winners before the age of 40. And he’s just one of six head coaches to coach at least three Heisman winners, joining Frank Leahy, Nick Saban, Pete Carroll, Red Blaik and Woody Hayes.
Riley is now the first head coach to produce three quarterbacks to win the Heisman Trophy.
Heisman Voting Totals
Williams collected 544 first-place votes and all six voting regions. He finished with 2,031 total points, far outpacing Duggan in second, who finished with 1,420 points and 188 first-place votes.
Not only did Williams have by far the most first-place votes, he also had the second-most second-place votes, with 168.
