USC QB Caleb Williams goals to enhance on Heisman marketing campaign

The bronze trophy sits in the identical spot on his eating room desk, a reminder of the excessive bar he set in his first season at USC. And within the three whirlwind months since he first hoisted his Heisman, turning into the eighth Trojan to earn the glory, Caleb Williams has had loads of time to contemplate how his encore would possibly surpass it.

For one, his plans contain making extra room on the desk.

“Gonna have two of them soon!” Williams stated Wednesday when requested the place his Heisman was, a smile spreading throughout his face.

Only one participant in faculty soccer historical past has managed to hoist the Heisman a second time — Ohio State’s Archie Griffin — and his second win got here practically 50 years in the past. The odds of being the second to repeat are stacked in opposition to USC’s junior quarterback, and his coach, Lincoln Riley has made clear he and Williams haven’t spent a lot time, if any, speaking about it.

“We probably haven’t talked about it since the day he won it,” Riley stated.

But with a large, bronze reminder peering up at him each morning, Williams has thought-about the likelihood as he deliberate his objectives for the upcoming season.

USC’s star quarterback lastly sat all the way down to make these plans official Wednesday, copying down his objectives to a notice affixed to his telephone’s dwelling display screen. Most of the objectives, he stated, centered on being extra constant or being extra environment friendly.

“I want to be better than I was last year,” Williams stated. “There were things I could’ve done better last year that I’m trying to do now. There’s a lot more that I know. I just want to be the best.”

It undoubtedly received’t be straightforward to enhance on a stellar sophomore marketing campaign that ranked not solely as one of the best in faculty soccer final season but additionally maybe one of the best in USC historical past. Williams set faculty data for yards passing (4,537), whole touchdowns (52), touchdowns passing (42), yards speeding by a quarterback (382) and touchdowns speeding by a quarterback (10). The Trojans went 11-3 and received the Pac-12.

But when Williams sat down to contemplate the place he may enhance, he saved coming again to effectivity.

“If I’m more efficient, the more touchdowns, the more yards I’ll have,” Williams stated.

Riley had two earlier Heisman-winning quarterbacks when he coached at Oklahoma, however he has by no means had one return to highschool.

The coach has tried to search out different areas during which to problem Williams, making it clear to his quarterback that he must make “drastic improvements” to achieve among the lofty objectives he has set for himself and the crew, which fell wanting reaching the College Football Playoff and misplaced to Tulane within the Cotton Bowl.

“That’s kind of been our deal the whole offseason, is last year wasn’t good enough,” Riley stated. “If we play and coach like we did last year, then that’s not what this team needs and not at all what we expect. … We’ve really been able to push him here the last month, and we’re going to obviously push him hard and expect a lot out of him here in spring ball both as a player and as a leader.”

For Williams, that has meant taking over extra of a mentorship function this spring, serving to five-star freshman Malachi Nelson be taught the ropes. It doesn’t damage that he has identified Nelson from years on the camp circuit. Their fathers speak often too, sharing methods of serving to their star quarterback sons succeed.

“It’s a new role for me which is awesome and something I’m taking on full steam,” Williams stated.

He has loads of different new additions to get used to this spring. His receiving corps has been rebuilt, with switch Dorian Singer taking over a number one function and two proficient freshmen becoming a member of the combination in Zach Branch and Makai Lemon.

Branch particularly has made an early impression on USC’s coaches. Williams known as the 5-foot-10 standout from Las Vegas Bishop Gorman “an explosive little dude.”

“That dude from a talent standpoint is special,” receivers coach Dennis Simmons stated.

The offensive line is also breaking in two transfers, whereas Justin Dedich strikes over to middle, giving Williams a brand new snapper.

There might be loads of time to iron out the kinks that come from these adjustments. As Williams embarks on his second spring at USC, his sights are set on elevating the bar once more.