One of the most polarizing college football athletes of the past decade, Caleb Williams’ college journey has become folklore for those looking to better their careers at the college football level.
From Norman to Los Angeles, Williams’ college stats showcase just how talented the Heisman Trophy winner was for the Oklahoma Sooners and USC Trojans.
Caleb Williams’ Freshman Year
It didn’t take long for the Sooners to see glimpses of what appeared to be their future during the 2021 season. Williams entered the lineup sporadically to start the year, playing limited series against Tulane and Kansas State while cleaning up in mop-up duty behind Spencer Rattler against Western Carolina.
His legend grew, however, to polarizing levels on a Saturday in Dallas. Williams entered the game for Rattler against archrival Texas, rushing his way into the hearts of Sooners’ fans forever.
Williams used his legs and teased the nation with his arm strength in leading the Sooners over the Longhorns in an epic Red River Showdown victory for Oklahoma. He would flash his talent down the stretch of the season before dismantling Oregon in the Alamo Bowl.
However, Williams ended the 2022 season as a longshot for the Heisman due to the stacked nature of the Oklahoma quarterback room and uncertainty at head coach. As his journey unfolded in front of our eyes, Williams never waivered as he followed Lincoln Riley across the country to USC following his freshman season.
Williams’ freshman year saw him account for the following stats:
Completions: 136
Attempts: 211
Yards: 1,912
Comp. %: 64.5%
TDs: 21
INTs: 4
Rush Attempts: 79
Rush Yards: 442
Rush TDs: 6
Williams Brings Heisman Trophy to LA in Sophomore Year
Following Riley was the easy part, as Williams had big shoes to fill as the first starting quarterback of the new era of Trojan football. However, looking back on it now, Williams’ shoes as a first-year starter with a program reached the highest of highs and are now the new precedent for success from an incoming transfer quarterback.
All Williams did as the USC starting quarterback in 2022 was dominate, week in and week out, on his way to a Heisman Trophy. Never in question, despite some close losses to perennial foe Utah, Williams accumulated record-breaking statistics and jaw-dropping moments along the way as a sophomore.
He threw for over 4,000 yards and had multiple touchdowns in all but two outings in 2022. Williams ended the year with a Heisman Trophy, among a handful of other awards, after delivering one of the best college football quarterbacking seasons we’ve seen.
Completions: 333
Attempts: 500
Yards: 4,537
Comp. %: 66.6%
TDs: 42
INTs: 5
Rush Attempts: 113
Rush Yards: 382
Rush TDs: 10
Team Losses Mar Incredible End to Williams’ College Career
With great power comes great responsibility, and the power that winning a Heisman Trophy brought to LA with Williams also meant the eyes of the nation descended upon his every move as a junior in 2023.
Though his play on the field did not disappoint, the team around him suffered from some defensive lapses, and Williams’ top-end play was undone by the cast around him.
Still, he wowed enough to be considered one of the top quarterback prospects in recent memory for the NFL Draft. Williams’ offense averaged 41.8 points per game during his final season with the Trojans, but the team still fell to just 7-5 during the regular season.
Completions: 266
Attempts: 388
Yards: 3,633
Comp. %: 68.6%
TDs: 30
INTs: 5
Rush Attempts: 97
Rush Yards: 136
Rush TDs: 11
Caleb Williams’ Final College Stats
Completions: 735
Attempts: 1,099
Yards: 10,082
Comp. %: 66.9%
TDs: 93
INTs: 14
Rush Attempts: 289
Rush Yards: 960
Rush TDs: 27
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