Caleb Williams has been so electrifying this season for USC that legendary Fox Sports broadcaster Gus Johnson compared the dual-threat sensation to Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Caleb Williams Is Heisman Favorite
Williams is the Heisman front-runner, and Saturday’s performance against Notre Dame did nothing to dispel that notion. Williams has been incredible all season leading the USC Trojans to an 11-1 record and the brink of a Pac-12 championship and College Football Playoff berth.
During a recent appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show,” Johnson elaborated on his comments.
“But this Caleb Williams … I was getting texts from my boys during the game and they were like, ‘This is Patrick Mahomes. This could be Patrick Mahomes. He’s smart. He’s just so smart. He’s so clever. Patrick Mahomes comes from that same Lincoln Riley system…”
Johnson continued:
“Lincoln Riley is just innovative. Think about the quarterbacks he’s had. Baker, Kyler, Jalen, and now this kid. It’s just so wonderful that USC was able to get him from Oklahoma. They were disappointed, but to have him out here with this brand of football, getting ready to go into the Big Ten is something special.”
There’s so many epic calls from Gus Johnson’s career that we love so it was awesome to finally talk to the man himself about some of his favorites:#NFL #CFBPlayoff #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/uvRlAwiakM
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) November 23, 2022
Riley and Williams have taken the Pac-12 by storm in year one and automatically returned the Trojans to national relevance. The home of Marcus Allen hasn’t had a team this noteworthy since the days of Pete Carroll, Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart.
Gus Johnson Compares Caleb Williams To Patrick Mahomes
Playing like Mahomes is almost impossible when you consider all the off-schedule plays he makes with his arm and legs. Williams does that with relative ease as well, but it’s the poise and bravado he shows weekly that captivates. Not to mention the different arm angles he makes some of his backbreaking throws from.
S/O to @gusjohnson for joining us and giving a glimpse into the process that makes him one of the best in the world at what he does. 🎙️
Catch him in action calling the @UMichFootball @OhioStateFB clash this Saturday on Fox. pic.twitter.com/1KUEdaBrj1— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) November 23, 2022
Caleb Williams Has Been Special Since High School
Williams has been playing that way since his days at Gonzaga College High School in the District of Columbia. His talents led him to being the No.1 ranked quarterback in the 2021 recruiting class. Riley’s track record for developing quarterbacks (Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray) made Williams’ decision to leave Oklahoma and join his coach at USC a no-brainer. The duo has quickly turned USC into a national power. Sort of like what we see with Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and Mahomes.
Caleb Williams Should Win 2022 Heisman Trophy
Each week there can be a new leader in the Heisman race, but no one has been as consistent as Williams. The dynamic signal-caller has passed for over 3,700 yards, 34 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He’s also completed nearly 66 percent of his passes while scampering for 355 yards and 10 touchdowns. Point blank, he’s been the best and most consistent player in college football this season.
Heisman campaigns of West Coast players are usually hurt by playing so late at night, but Williams has been must-see TV, and he even struck a Heisman pose during Saturday’s big win over rival Notre Dame. So he knows what’s up.
Is that a Heisman pose I spy from USC QB Caleb Williams after his touchdown? pic.twitter.com/ptACXzXOIz
— Keely Eure (@keelyismyname) November 27, 2022
Now he’s just waiting for the invite and real thing to be put in his hands. Every season a new quarterback prodigy is elevated to the next best thing status. Williams is the latest, but he has a way to go before he’s on the level of one Patrick Mahomes.
