USC coach Lincoln Riley, left, speaks with quarterback Caleb Williams throughout a 52-42 loss to Washington on the Coliseum on Nov. 4.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Instances)
Williams could make touchdowns out of nothing, however even the Heisman Trophy winner can’t make a nationwide championship out of this.
The belief that Williams will go a 3rd season with out a School Soccer Playoff look lastly set in after USC’s loss to Washington. He tried to keep up {that a} two-loss crew might need had an opportunity on this aggressive school soccer season, however a 3rd loss certainly ended all nationwide championship possibilities.
Williams has by no means been out of the championship dialog like this, he acknowledged, even in highschool. The unfamiliar state of affairs has examined Williams as a frontrunner, he stated. He confided in folks closest to him, together with Riley, and vowed to remain regular.
“One thing that I’ve stated to the entire group, with the coaches round, earlier than the season began is, I need to be the identical particular person each single day,” Williams stated.
Teammates have seen Williams dwell as much as that promise amid the swings of the season.
“Caleb’s a type of dudes, he simply hates shedding, however [I] by no means query one doubt when the sport begins, he’s able to go,” middle Justin Dedich stated. “He’s an ultra-competitor.”
Williams leads the nation in passing touchdowns with 28 and has probably the most speeding touchdowns within the Pac-12 with 10, however his ball safety has emerged as a priority. The junior has misplaced fumbles on sacks in consecutive video games. Williams’ fumble in opposition to Washington was particularly pricey because it allowed the Huskies to arrange within the purple zone and rating instantly earlier than halftime to take a seven-point lead. That mistake “can’t occur,” Riley stated Thursday.
The Trojans misplaced simply two fumbles as a crew final yr, together with one by Williams within the Pac-12 championship sport in opposition to Utah. The opposite was a muffed onside kick in opposition to Cal. This season, USC has fumbled 20 instances and misplaced eight.
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