Why Caleb Williams gained the Heisman

As far as “Heisman Moments” go, it was maybe totally different than the remainder.

It was not a game-winning Hail Mary, akin to Doug Flutie’s second again in 1984. It was not an electrifying landing run, akin to Reggie Bush’s “stop-and-go” landing towards Fresno State in 2005. It was not a surprising punt return landing, like we noticed from Desmond Howard or Charles Woodson.

No, this Heisman Moment didn’t even end in a rating, and it got here in a shedding effort.

But when USC quarterback Caleb Williams ripped off a 59-yard run by, over, and across the Utah protection within the Pac-12 Championship recreation, it solidified a bit of information that grew to become obvious all through the school soccer season.

He was one of the best participant within the sport this yr.

Heisman voters agreed, as Williams was introduced because the recipient of the 2022 Heisman Trophy on Saturday night time. He secured 544 first-place votes, placing him effectively forward of TCU quarterback Max Duggan. Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud completed third, whereas Georgia QB Stetson Bennett completed fourth:

For reference, right here is that second from the Pac-12 Championship recreation:

In some ways, that one run exemplified simply how electrical Williams was this season, and the way troublesome he was to cease. Starting his first full season in school, as he adopted Lincoln Riley to the west coast and USC, Williams accomplished 66.1% of his passes for 4,075 yards and 37 touchdowns, towards simply 9 interceptions. He added one other 372 dashing yards on the bottom, with 10 extra scores.

Those numbers put Williams at or close to the highest of many offensive classes. His 37 landing passes led the FBS, and he additionally led the FBS with the 47 touchdowns he was answerable for. Williams ranked fifth in passing effectivity, first in factors answerable for, first in factors per recreation, and was sixth in complete offense.

But past what he did, it was how he did it. Williams was dynamic all through the season, irritating defenses whereas leaving NFL scouts and evaluators dreaming of what he may very well be on the subsequent degree. Plays like this throw late to beat Oregon State, the place the margin for error was razor-thin:

Or this rocket towards Washington State, that may be comprised of what’s conservatively described as an “unsettled platform:”

Or maybe this throw beneath stress towards Notre Dame:

Or possibly even escapes like this one towards Arizona State:

Perhaps Williams didn’t have a singular Heisman Moment. While the run towards USC exemplified every little thing the quarterback completed this season, along with his dynamic, play-making capacity, in fact Williams had a Heisman season. A yr stuffed with comparable moments, that wowed teammates, coaches, and opponents alike.

After Notre Dame misplaced to USC, their head coach Marcus Freeman praised the USC quarterback:

Gosh, you simply see it occur again and again all yr. His capacity to really feel stress, to spin out of it. We informed our guys ‘He’s going to spin, He’s going to spin and work upfield.’ He’s elusive, man. He’s bought large legs. He’s like a working again again there at instances. But he’s bought an arm of an incredible quarterback. He’s actually troublesome to convey down. He’s a particular participant.

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, the one coach to beat Williams this season, had this to say concerning the USC passer previous to the Pac-12 Championship recreation:

Show me a recreation the place he’s not nice. I believe he simply retains getting higher and higher. He’s possibly probably the most troublesome quarterback to sack we’ve ever come throughout that can also be an incredible throwing risk. We’ve performed some actually athletic quarterbacks that you simply would possibly liken to a large receiver taking part in QB, however no one tougher to sack than that man. He retains performs alive, he extends performs, he retains his eyes downfield extremely effectively throughout the scrambles.

He very hardly ever glances on the rush, he’s at all times seeing peripherally and it looks as if he has eyes behind his head. Some of the escapes he has are simply incredible. And he’s solely 20 years outdated, second yr out of highschool — a real sophomore. What he’s doing could be very spectacular.

And what occurred after that run towards Utah solely bolstered his case for school soccer’s most prestigious award. Williams harm his hamstring on the finish of the run, however stayed within the recreation regardless of being severely restricted. Riley, after the loss to Utah, acknowledged that Williams was “not even close to 50%.”

But he stored battling.

Yet whereas USC had a 17-3 lead over Utah at one level, Williams’ harm cleary impacted that offense, and their capacity to carry the lead. Eventually the Utes overcame the deficit, ending USC’s desires of a nationwide title.

“In terms of guys I’ve coached at that position, it’s maybe the gutsiest performance I’ve ever seen. I mean, most guys wouldn’t even played. He still gave us a chance,” Riley stated after the Pac-12 Championship recreation.

According to the Heisman belief, the award is “annually awarded to the outstanding college football player in the United States whose performance epitomizes great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work.”

Williams exemplified that each one season lengthy. But maybe most of all in a shedding effort towards Utah. Where, after exhibiting the world simply how dynamic of a soccer participant he was, he remained within the recreation, whereas injured, attempting to will his workforce to victory.

Great capacity, mixed with perseverance and onerous work. The very standards for the award, showcased for us all to see.

For that, he’s actually a worthy Heisman winner.