Norman’s new star: Caleb Williams
NORMAN, Okla. — The University of Oklahoma has had a long-standing history with having top quarterbacks. Over the years we have seen Sam Bradford, Baker Mayfield and Jalen Hurts all come through the Oklahoma system and go on to play in the NFL. While many thought the next great Sooner quarterback would be Spencer Rattler, after his benching during the Texas game, a new star has emerged. That new star is Caleb Williams, a true freshman from Washington DC who is making a major impact on not only the Sooners, but on all of college football.
Williams’ heroics were on full display the other week as he led Oklahoma to a win over Kansas. The play of the game came late in the 4th quarter when Oklahoma was trying to run the clock out and see out the victory. On a 4th and short, the Sooners handed the ball off and the running back was met behind the line. As the running back was falling down, Williams ran over, took the ball out of the running backs’ hands, and rushed for the first down. Oklahoma running back, Kennedy Brooks, spoke about the play following the game.
“I felt somebody tugging at it (the ball) and then I saw it was Caleb,” he said. “So, I knew that I couldn’t get tackled with the ball, so I handed it off and gave it to Caleb.”
Oklahoma wide receiver, Jadon Haselwood, also spoke recently about what has been working for the offense recently since Williams has come into the spotlight.
“We’re just executing the deep ball,” he said. “Even in practice, we’re working on that type of stuff and practicing trying to get it right for Saturday.”
Oklahoma head coach, Lincoln Riley, has been very careful to not throw too much praise on his new quarterback in his postgame interviews. Many believe this is out of respect for his former starting quarterback, Spencer Rattler, who has not seen the field nearly as much since Williams’ takeover. Here is what Riley said after the win over Kansas.
“He’s played so well early. He really has,” Riley said. “He’s been, even areas where he hasn’t been great, he hasn’t killed us. He hasn’t made a lot of big mistakes. There’s been some areas that have been really good. There’s been some areas that have just been OK that need to get better. But he’s really limited the big mistakes. And I think for a young guy, that’s been particularly impressive. … He’s had kind of a different lineup every week, you’re seeing new things defensively, some things he hasn’t seen or hasn’t seen a ton of yet at this point in his career. Each week, you’re kind of growing, learning and getting ready.”
While Riley might be slow to compliment his new quarterback, the rest of the college football world is not. Recently, Williams was named to the Davey O’ Brian award watchlist, which is given each year to the nation’s best quarterback. Williams will have to continue his form if he hopes to achieve Oklahoma’s end goal of the season: a national championship.
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