Evaluating Caleb Williams’ performance in Week 0 victory

USC’s opener on Saturday night was just your typical fantastic performance from QB Caleb Williams. Still, while it might have been his usual, On3’s J.D. PicKell doesn’t want how special the reigning Heisman Trophy winner was yet again to go unnoticed.

PicKell broke down Williams’ outing in USC’s 56-28 win over San Jose State during Week 0 on Sunday. He pointed to the insane plays, specifically the one where he turned a botched snap by the Trojans into a touchdown bomb, as well as his poise and command as reasons why Williams looked as good as ever this weekend.

“When it came down to it? Caleb Williams did Caleb Williams things yesterday. The stat line is about what you’d expect from him: 18-25, 278, four touchdowns,” PicKell said. “I mean just the way Lincoln Riley draws it up, right? The snap goes past his leg, he has to run back there and pick it up, and throws it like 70 yards for a touchdown. That’s exactly how you talk about it during the week, right? He’s special, man. He’s special.”

“Again, it’s Week 0, it’s the Heisman Trophy winner. This is kind of what we’ve come to expect from him,” continued PicKell. “He just always looks like he is so in control of the entire operation in The Coliseum. He is so smooth with the football in his hands and he looks like he is just setting the pace for everything going on. Never out of control. He just kind of flows with the game.”

Williams posted his ninth game at USC with over 275 passing yards and his fifth game with four or more passing touchdowns in the win over the Spartans. The 72% completion rate was also one of his best in his time as a Trojan.

There’s no doubt that Williams will continue to have moments throughout this year where he puts everyone’s jaws on the floor. That’s especially so after what PicKell saw from him yet again to open his third, and potentially final, college campaign.

“The dude is special. He is very special. Yesterday was no exception. It looks so effortless for him and he’s going to be a version of what we saw last year. I fully believe that,” said PicKell. “You’re encouraged by what you saw from him yesterday and that’s kind of what we’ve come to expect from him – just being special in those kinds of settings.”

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