One of the top quarterbacks of college football for the 2021 season, Oklahoma’s Caleb Williams, has entered the transfer window.
Williams on Monday announced its decision to join the portal, a move that shouldn’t be too much of a shock considering Williams’ coach Lincoln Riley has left the Sooners for USC. Indeed, Williams – who becomes the second Sooners quarterback to enter the transfer window this season, after Spencer Rattler – mentioned that reason in his announcement:
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Williams’ father, Carl, told Pete Thamel of Yahoo! Sports that his development as an NFL quarterback was a major contributing factor to his son’s playing in Oklahoma. So it will also affect where he chooses to move to. That said, the rising sophomore could end up staying in Oklahoma, a possibility he mentioned in his announcement. It could be the first major recruiting battle of new coach Brent Venables’ tenure at Norman, although his recent recruitment of Ole Miss offensive coordinator/backer Jeff Lebby will certainly be. a compelling argument for Williams to keep coming back Sooner.
But Williams will have no shortage of other schools knocking on his door while he’s in the gate. He completed 137 of 212 passes (64.6 per cent) for 1,916 yards and 21 touchdowns for 4 interceptions as a freshman in 2021. He also added 79 times. javelin for 442 yards and six points. In short, he’s one of the most talented signal callers in college football and would represent a major upgrade in quarterback for nearly every school in the country.
Along with that, Sporting News analyzes 5 potential transfer destinations for Williams:
USC
Trojan on paper seems to be one of the best matches for Williams, who initially picked Oklahoma because of Riley’s record in NFL quarterback development (two No. 1 picks overall Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, plus with second pick Jalen Hurts). Mayfield and Murray also won the Heisman Trophy, while Hurts finished second in the vote).
The simplest move that aligns with Williams’ goals of playing in the NFL is to follow his coach from Norman to Los Angeles. It was a more viable option as Kedon Slovis had transferred to Pitt, leaving only Jaxson Dart to fight for the job. Malachi Nelson, the No. 2 overall quarterback in the 2023 division, won’t be attending USC until 2023. No larger brand will ever pursue Williams’ services (at least, one that’s actually in demand at the spot. this mind).
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Clemson
Will Dabo Swinney welcome another quarterback with DJ Uiagalelei continuing to be the starter? The top professional defender from the 2020 signing fought for the Tigers in 2021, completing 208 of 374 passes (55.6%) with nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. He added 103 jabs for 316 yards and four points.
That was good enough to send the Tigers to a 10-3 record, but Clemson had bigger ambitions than a double-digit win. And Swinney has shown a willingness to replace his starter if there is a better option: Just look at Kelly Bryant in 2018. Swinney has usurped the senior – who led the Tigers to the Football Round. College education just one season before – for a true freshman. Trevor Lawrence, who led Clemson to an undefeated season.
Lawrence ended up taking first place overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, behind Deshaun Watson (12th in the 2017 NFL Draft) when he was selected in the first round outside of Clemson. The road is in place, and Williams will have no shortage of opportunities to prove himself at a show with more realistic championship aspirations than Oklahoma.
Ole Miss
Matt Corral likely played his last game for the Rebels, which leaves a hole in the most important spot. Williams may not be a 1-1 comparison with Corral, who is widely considered a first-round draft pick, but Williams’ ability to run as well as pass should attract a lot of attention from Lane Kiffin.
Ole Miss would be an attractive choice for a number of reasons, especially Kiffin’s history of working with future NFL quarterbacks: Corral at Ole Miss; Tua Tagovailoa and Pains in Alabama; and Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer at USC. Not only does Kiffin have a history of producing new level talent, he also has a fierce attacking play with runs in midfield. Corral throws 3,343 yards and 20 touchdowns for five interceptions in 2021, while also adding 614 yards and 11 points on the ground.
Moving to Ole Miss will also give Williams the chance to play in the SEC, which consistently produces the most NFL talent of any major college football convention. If Williams can succeed in the SEC, it will go a long way to proving his ability to NFL scouts who regularly attend Rebels games.
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Texas A&M
Texas A&M already has former LSU fullback Max Johnson, but coach Jimbo Fisher would certainly welcome a player of Williams’ caliber to join. Fisher also has a history of working with top NFL quarterback talents: JaMarcus Russell at LSU and Jameis Winston at Florida State. Both players took 1st place overall in the 2007 and 2015 NFL drafts, respectively. Kellen Mond was an A&M third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Aggies, like Ole Miss, compete outside of the SEC West, where teams like Alabama, LSU and Auburn regularly send players to the NFL. But Fisher has also secured the top class in modern recruiting history, something that is sure to help get the most out of Williams’ talent. That 2022 signing class, coupled with Fisher’s history of producing NFL quarterbacks, could make College Station an attractive destination.
Maryland
Maryland could draw attention from Williams considering the Washington, DC production, which has Terrapins among his finalists before handing over to Riley at Oklahoma. If Williams moves to Maryland, he will continue his football career just half an hour from where he played at Gonzaga College High School.
The Terrapins also have head coach Mike Locksley and offensive line/backward coordination coach Dan Enos, both of whom were on Alabama’s coaching staff in 2018. That Tide team has produced 16 future picks. of the NFL Draft on crime, including quarterbacks Tagovailoa (#5 overall in 2020) and Mac Jones (#15 in 2021).
It is uncertain whether junior Taulia Tagovailoa will announce her participation in the 2022 NFL Draft; If he does, Maryland could be a prime destination for Williams. That could be the case even if Taulia Tagovailoa returns for his senior season, though it remains to be seen whether Williams is interested in a key midfield fight.
