Former Oklahoma Sooners quarterback sensation Caleb Williams entered his name in the transfer portal. His entrance into the portal threw the school and state of Oklahoma for a loop. The reality of Williams not returning is a sobering thought and it’s getting more apparent everyday.
Oklahoma’s Caleb Williams Enters The Transfer Portal | Sooners Are In A Quandary At Quarterback
In an interview with Yahoo Sports following his announcement, Williams said:
“As you all know, the sudden changes this season sent through Sooner Nation and were really hard for the whole team. I think we all come to college to find our own path and prepare for the future. I came to Oklahoma with a game plan, but with all the recent changes, I need to figure out what is the right path moving forward.
“According to NCAA rules, as a student-athlete, the only way I can speak with other schools and see who may offer the best preparation and development for my future career is entering the portal. Staying at OU will definitely be an option as I begin the process.”
Caleb Williams: No. 1 Transfer Prospect In CFB
Williams was the No. 1 quarterback recruit in the class of 2021, from Gonzaga College High School located in Washington D.C. There he led the Bulldogs to the prestigious WCAC championship as a sophomore.
#OklahomaFootball quarterback Caleb Williams (@CALEBcsw) earns a five-star rating and ranks No.1 in the nation by On3. pic.twitter.com/NzGywRiwTN
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) July 21, 2021
He also won the 2020 Nike Elite 11 which brings the top eleven junior signal callers from around the country to compete in a week-long event under the direction of Super Bowl-winning QB Trent Dilfer.
Caleb Williams, 2020 Elite 11 MVP. pic.twitter.com/akDveYb7Uv
— Elite11 (@Elite11) July 1, 2020
Williams Spent Last Week/Weekend In California: USC Is The Rumored Favorite
If you follow Williams’ Instagram account, he posted videos of himself at the Lakers game after being seen at the Rams/Niners game on Sunday. Those tickets aren’t cheap.
#Oklahoma QB transfer Caleb Williams apparently has a good ticket hookup in Los Angeles.
After field-level suites at the #Rams game earlier, here he is (via his IG story) at center court on the bottom level at the #Lakers game: pic.twitter.com/y8HtM7TYN0
— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSpr) January 10, 2022
He also reportedly visited both USC and archrival UCLA. The belief has been that he’s going to rejoin former Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley and the Trojans. In fact, most college football insiders expected Williams to follow the guy who has produced first-round and Heisman-winning quarterbacks at a rapid rate. Riley has a proven track record and pedigree as it pertains to QB development.
Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. Also Jalen Hurts, who finished second in the 2020 Heisman race. Hurts was drafted in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, and this season he’s led the Eagles to the playoffs in his first year as starter. Philly will meet Tom Brady and the defending world champs in an NFC wild card game on Sunday.
Riley, AKA The “Quarterback Whisperer,” also developed former five-star QB Spencer Rattler into this past season’s Heisman favorite. Rattler struggled and wilted under the pressure, opening the door for Caleb Williams to step in. Rattler subsequently transferred to South Carolina, believing he’d lost the job to Williams. Now both have left Norman.
Development is the key, and no one does it better than Riley.
Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel described what Williams’ dad Carl is saying about his Caleb’s process: “His son ‘doesn’t have a destintation’ picked out. He’s wide open. Williams stressed that preparing his son to be NFL quarterback is going to be the most important factor.”
QB Transfer At USC And A QB Staying At UCLA Provides More Clarity
USC quarterback Jaxson Dart entered the transfer portal on Tuesday right after Caleb’s visit with the Trojans. Dart may end up at Oklahoma, Ole Miss or TCU. He plays a lot like Matt Corral, who just tore it up for the Rebels and Lane Kiffin. Plus OU added UCF transfer Dillon Gabriel, who has experience in offensive coordinator Joe Lebby’s offense.
USC quarterback Jaxson Dart is currently focused on three transfer destinations: Oklahoma, Ole Miss, and TCU, according to @HamiltonESPN.
Story: https://t.co/Hy9jDKGHAU
— On3 (@On3sports) January 13, 2022
Further indication of Caleb Williams’ exit to USC is UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s announcement he’s returning for his fifth season with the Bruins. It’ll be his fourth-year as the program’s starting quarterback. No way he returns if he believed Williams would choose the Bruins.
Run it back.#GoBruins | @DoriansTweets pic.twitter.com/czNeFWSsrj
— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) January 10, 2022
The Sooners need to move on, cut bait and stop holding out hope that William is going to return. He’s kind of holding a blue blood program hostage. Oklahoma can attract other top QB talent. With Lebby, an offensive guru, adding QBs won’t be a problem, and eventually head coach Brent Venables needs to take heed and realize this.
Williams is slated to visit other schools ,but the writing is on the wall. He’s very likely to rejoin the coach who brought him to Oklahoma. But this time it’ll be in sunny Southern California.
Once Williams lands, then the transfer portal will begin to settle for other talented QBs who’ve entered.
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Brian Flores Being Fired Was A Shock| Where Will Black HC & GM Candidates Land?
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