Lincoln Riley details impact of getting Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams back in 2023

Lincoln Riley and USC get another year of quarterback Caleb Williams in 2023 after the latter won the Heisman Trophy.

Riley had a long string of years with a different quarterback each season, to varying degrees of success but usually a Heisman winner or contender. This will be the third straight year with Williams and second with USC after the pair started at Oklahoma.

After winning a Heisman last year, the pair have bigger goals in the fall.

“It’s not like Caleb and I sit there and talk about the Heisman every day,” Riley said. “We probably haven’t talked about it since the day he won it. I just draw back on East Carolina with Shane Carden and Oklahoma with Baker (Mayfield), you know, guys that I had multiple years, were multiple year starters and you know, all of them had really good years and then we’re coming back for next year.

“To be able to kind of draw back as you said, it’s been a while. Been a while since I’ve been able to do that. That part has been fun.”

Some draft experts projected Williams as the top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, if he was eligible. Riley made it known everyone has to improve ahead of the new season.

“I think it’s a challenge to myself and the coaches to continue to obviously push Caleb and identify the ways he’s gotta get better and lay out that plan,” Riley said. “And then to challenge Caleb to continue to improve his goals as a player both now and in the future. That doesn’t happen without him making drastic improvements. And that’s kind of been our hard deal. The whole offseason is you know, last year wasn’t good enough. That we played and coached like we did last year and then that’s not what this team needs and not at all what we expect. 

“Again, we’re not defined by a trophy or an award or an outside opinion, but we’re defined by our expectations. And you know, what we believe is that, what can we do together and what can he do as a leader and as a quarterback for this football team? So we’ve really been able to push them hard and he’s had a good offseason. 

Riley mentioned Williams recovered well after late season injuries.

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“He’s gotten back a little bit healthier, certainly kind of past some of the things he was dealing with there at the end of the year, which is good,” Riley said. “Really been able to push him over the last month and obviously push them hard and expect a lot out of him in spring ball both as a player and as a leader.”