Bruce Feldman reveals latest update on Caleb Williams courting, key factors for quarterback

Former Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams has long been linked to USC, as his former head coach, Lincoln Riley, left Norman to take the vacancy with the Trojans. But as the five-star quarterback sits in the transfer portal, waiting to make his decision on where he’ll spend the next two seasons, The Athletic college football reporter Bruce Feldman made an appearance on The Paul Finebaum Show to discuss exactly what Williams is looking for in his new destination.

“(Williams) has a track record, and then his coach, who he went there to play for in Lincoln Riley, makes this bombshell move to USC. And a system comes in (at Oklahoma) with (new offensive coordinator) Jeff Lebby, and it didn’t sound like Caleb Williams — or really, more specifically maybe his dad or even an advisor who’s close to them — who’s connected to the QB collective space, Richmond Flowers, who I think they’ve been working with since they were in high school, (was very interested in Oklahoma). It’s really more geared towards ‘Hey, how can we get him as NFL ready as possible for when the time comes to move on, so he can hit the ground running?’ I think they’re trying to sort out, in terms of what’s the next move, is it definitely to USC? Is there another college coach in a college system that will get him prepared to hit the ground running for every concept and thing he needs to do?”

Williams came on late this year for Oklahoma, entering his true freshman season as the backup to Spencer Rattler. But after coming on midway through the game against Texas and leading the Sooners to a double-digit comeback victory over their Big 12 foes, Williams never once lost the starting role.

“I think as much as people — there are transfer portal issues that I think are tied into NIL deals. This is not one of them, from my understanding. It’s really about their plan of how do we get him the best training and system for the NFL. And what’s going to happen is there’s a bunch of guys, including some Oklahoma players, who I think are looking, ‘Hey, I’m going to follow him wherever he goes.’ It’s not a done deal where if Caleb goes to wherever then all the players are going to follow him … We’ll see what his next move is going to be.”

Williams finished the season with 1,912 passing yards, holding a 64.5 percent completion rate, while throwing for 21 touchdowns and four interceptions. All the while, a dual-threat quarterback, Williams ran for 442 yards and six touchdowns.

“I think (USC) is the team to beat for (Williams’ recruitment), because (the players) bought into Lincoln Riley a couple of years ago,” Feldman said. “They have three starting quarterbacks in the NFL right now in Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts, that (Riley) has helped develop.”

But now more than ever, Williams’ transfer to USC is looking like it’s close to a done deal. Though Feldman did not say it outright, Oklahoma wide receiver Mario Williams, who entered the Transfer Portal shortly after Williams, said he would only transfer wherever Williams ended up — and Williams on Saturday announced that he would be transferring to USC. Williams has yet to give official word on his destination, but USC seems increasingly likely.

Potential impact of Caleb Williams

Lincoln Riley has been the head coach at USC for just a couple of months and he is already experiencing something he never had to at Oklahoma — quarterback problems. The past two starters for the Trojans are on their way out of the program in Kedon Slovis and Jaxson Dart.

However, there is one name out there that Riley has to land in order to get his tenure at USC off to a hot start in Caleb Williams. The former Oklahoma Sooner sent the college football world into a frenzy by entering the transfer portal. And USC instantly became the favorite due to Williams’ connection to Riley.

When discussing the possibility of Williams heading to Los Angeles, LA Times writer Ryan Kartje laid out how the former On3 No. 1 overall player could impact the USC program. He said Williams is “on another level” and would speed up Riley’s rebuild.

“Jaxson Dart had a really impressive debut season while thrust into a difficult spot as a freshman,” Kartje said. “USC would’ve been just fine with him at the helm next season. With Riley guiding his development, a Dart-led future looked pretty bright at USC, and I have no doubt he’ll make another team very happy as its quarterback.

“But Williams is on another level. He’s already being viewed as a candidate for the top pick in the 2024 NFL draft. His arrival would immediately set USC on a different course over the next two seasons. He’s already comfortable in Riley’s offense, and while he wouldn’t have the same caliber of weapons to work with, there’s no doubt he would immediately step in as one of the best quarterbacks in the Pac-12. That goes a long way when you’re trying to rebuild a program.”

On3’s James Fletcher contributed to this report.