Since I enrolled at the University of Oklahoma in 2019, I’ve watched the play of three starting QBs: Jalen Hurts, Spencer Rattler and Caleb Williams. When I visited OU for the first time, Kyler Murray ran all over Chip Kelly’s UCLA Bruins in a massive 49-21 win.
So yeah, I’ve seen some good QB play during my time.
The Caleb Williams “era” didn’t get started on the right foot, at least for me.
I was there during the all too frustrating West Virginia game when the “We Want Caleb” chants rained down at Gaylord Memorial.
I understood the crowd’s frustrations, but I’ve never been a fan of jeering my own players. That was not a good day to be Spencer Rattler.
Then, a few weeks later the Red River game happened.
I had never seen any player single-handedly spark such a huge comeback in my life. Caleb Williams was just far too good of a passer for the “dual-threat” label he was given.
He also happened to be a very gifted runner of the football. His cuts in the open field reminded me of Lamar Jackson. “This guy is special,” I thought to myself.
As for the Gaylord College students that went rogue and found Caleb Williams getting the first team reps at practice, sadly I cannot say that I had anything to do with that, though I commend the OU Daily staff that were.
Now that Williams is gone, I can’t help but wonder what could’ve been. Dillon Gabriel is looking like an excellent fit in Jeff Lebby’s offense, and appears to be right at home, but Gabriel just doesn’t stick out to me as much as Caleb Williams did during his freshman season.
The ending of Williams’ story at OU may be my favorite part.
By god, he was going to either win Bedlam for the Sooners, or get carried off the field. That loss should never, ever be put on him.
Then the Alamo Bowl.
After everything that happened. Riley’s departure, recruits decommitting, and seemingly everything crashing down, Caleb Williams stayed for one more game to finish his side of the bargain. He was going to get the Sooners one last win.
Williams’ transfer decision doesn’t change my view of him as a football player. He’s the most polished dual-threat I’ve ever watched play college football. He’s going to be excellent at USC for the next two years, and then he will be drafted first overall by a very lucky NFL team.
Despite our collective feelings on Lincoln Riley, Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts all made it to the NFL on his watch. While Rattler’s development didn’t go to plan, Riley still has a good track record with QBs that can run. If one thing will go right for the Trojans this year, it will be the play of Caleb Williams.
There will be many more QBs to wear the Crimson and Cream after Caleb Williams. OU’s 2023 QB recruit Jackson Arnold has recently been awarded his fifth star.
As for Williams, it was much more fun watching the Sooners offense go to work with him under center than it was with Rattler and Hurts.
However, much like Lincoln Riley, Caleb Williams didn’t invent OU Football. Someday, perhaps soon, we will get a QB just as talented as Williams in Norman.
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