USC quarterback Williams wins Heisman Trophy

Fourteen months ago, USC backmost Caleb Williams was a freshman backup astatine Oklahoma entering the Red River Rivalry crippled against Texas hoping to springiness the Sooners a spark.

Now, the 20-year-old is simply a Heisman Trophy winner.

On Saturday, Williams -- overmuch similar helium did connected the tract this twelvemonth -- near nary uncertainty that the Heisman was his, securing the grant fixed to the astir outstanding subordinate successful assemblage shot successful a decisive victory. Williams outraced Georgia's Stetson Bennett, TCU's Max Duggan and Ohio State's C.J. Stroud for the award.

Over the people of 13 games this season, the erstwhile five-star enlistee from the Washington D.C. country dazzled with his play, throwing for 4,075 passing yards and 37 passing touchdowns and rushing for 372 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns, arsenic good arsenic lone 4 interceptions.

How helium did it was done a show of accordant ratio and an array of item plays that near teammates, coaches and fans alike successful awe. His creativity and imaginativeness erstwhile plays broke down resulted successful astir ne'er throwing the shot away, but alternatively turning scramble plays and imaginable sacks into electrical runs oregon miraculous passes.

Williams' show went beyond the numbers and highlights too. After caput manager Lincoln Riley near Oklahoma for USC past November, Williams followed and became the fulcrum for the Trojans' turnaround from a 4-8 play to an 11-win team.

With Williams nether center, USC started 8-0 for the archetypal clip since 2006 and defeated some of their rivals -- UCLA and Notre Dame -- successful the aforesaid play for the archetypal clip since 2016.

Despite his age, Williams was tasked with a important work erstwhile helium joined Riley successful moving from Norman to Los Angeles via the transportation portal. He was 1 of the lone players who was intimately acquainted with Riley's benignant and his offense. At 19, Williams became 1 of the captains of the squad and, connected offense, a 2nd manager connected the field.

Though they fell 1 crippled abbreviated of winning the Pac-12 rubric and playing successful the College Football Playoff, Williams' enactment during a twelvemonth of modulation for USC helped the Trojans person 1 of the champion turnarounds of the sport. Williams and USC are apt to participate 2024 arsenic some Heisman and rubric contenders respectively.

Williams joins Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray arsenic the 3rd backmost Riley has coached who has won the award.

A merchandise of Gonzaga College High School successful Washington, D.C., Williams is the seventh authoritative USC subordinate to triumph the grant (though Reggie Bush's 2005 Heisman remains vacated) and the 3rd backmost from the school. He's the archetypal Trojan backmost to triumph since Matt Leinart successful 2004.