Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams was named as one of the 14 semifinalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.
Oklahoma true freshman quarterback Caleb Williams was announced as one of 14 semifinalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. The award is presented annually to the outstanding freshman player in college football by the Maxwell Football Club.
Williams started six games for the Sooners. The Washington, D.C., native completed 62.5 percent of his passes and has thrown for 1,670 passing yards, 18 passing touchdowns and just four interceptions.
Williams was the hero in Oklahoma’s annual rivalry game against Texas. In the Red River Showdown, Williams replaced Spencer Rattler and passed for 212 yards and a pair of touchdowns to help rally the Sooners back from an early 28-7 deficit. Williams also had a 66-yard rushing touchdown against the Longhorns in OU’s 55-48 comeback victory.
Against Texas Tech, Williams became just the third quarterback in Oklahoma history to pass for six touchdowns with no interceptions in a single game. Williams ended that day versus the Red Raiders with 402 passing yards.
One of Williams’ other highly-efficient days came against TCU. Against the Horned Frogs, Williams tossed four touchdown passes on 18-of-23 passing for 295 yards.
Then, against Kansas, Williams took the football away from redshirt junior running back Kennedy Brooks on a 4th-and-1 snap and scampered five yards to help preserve an eventual 35-23 victory over the Jayhawks.
Williams nearly engineered a late Bedlam comeback in the final minute. Similar to other heroics throughout the season, Williams broke free for a 56-yard run to the Oklahoma State 24-yard-line.
However, after three straight incompletions, Williams was sacked by Oklahoma State’s Collin Oliver and the Cowboys topped Oklahoma in Bedlam, 37-33, to end the Sooners’ string of six consecutive Big 12 championships.
Now, with Oklahoma still in the midst of a head coaching search, the question is whether or not Williams will be a part of the future for Oklahoma. Sooner fans would certainly love for Williams to stay.
So far, all anybody really knows about whether or not Williams will stay or go is based on what he’s shared across social media.
Williams tweeted this on Sunday after the news that Lincoln Riley was leaving Oklahoma to become USC’s new head coach.
“I appreciate all the concerns about the situation but I am also happy for Coach Riley, mama Riley, Sloan and Stella for that huge opportunity ahead. That’s all I plan to say right now! #boomer.”
Williams attended Oklahoma basketball’s 74-67 win over No. 14 Florida and received one of the loudest applauses of the night when he was shown on the scoreboard. Still, what his future holds remains to be seen.
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