Sometimes, the pressure of being one of the premier collegiate athletes can get to you. After his USC team lost a hard-fought game, 52-42, to Washington, Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams shared an emotional moment with his mother.
Williams went to his mother in the L.A. Coliseum stands, appearing to cry in her arms. Despite being the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and projected first overall pick in next year’s NFL Draft, Williams couldn’t hold back his emotions after USC suffered its third loss in four weeks.
Williams became the face of college football last year, winning the prestigious Heisman Trophy. He returned to USC for a second season after transferring from Oklahoma with hopes of guiding the Trojans to the CFB Playoff.
However, the path got halted with a road loss at Notre Dame and two home defeats to Utah and Washington. With a 7-3 overall record and 5-2 in the Pac-12 Conference, USC’s objective shifts to trying to salvage its season with an appearance in a respectable bowl game.
What’s next for Caleb Williams?
Meanwhile, Williams’s future seems in flux. Many draft pundits expect him to be the top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Even in defeat, Williams looks strong. Against Washington on Saturday, he completed 27-of-35 passes for 312 yards, three passing touchdowns and a rushing score.
Does Williams risk injury by finishing out the season, which likely will be his last collegiately? Would a shutdown send a negative message to NFL teams? What does he gain by continuing to play with him cemented as the No. 1 overall pick?
Maybe all those questions were on his mind as he broke down with his mother. Saturday’s loss answered any doubts about the Trojans but opened another door of questions about Caleb Williams.
