Caleb Williams “Superman” is in the Building

USC’s quarterback (QB) Caleb Williams has been nothing short of amazing in his time as college football’s biggest star. Nicknamed “Superman” by his teammates at Gonzaga College High School, the number eight recruit of 247Sports 2021 recruiting class has become one of the greatest college football players of all time with all pro potential in the NFL.

Caleb Williams Super Powers

Williams’ greatest strength is his mobility. This unlocks his game and the entire USC RPO/vertical Offense. RPO is short for “run-pass option.” His ability to escape pressure and create magical plays is the best in college football. Williams routinely escapes out of sacks, arm tackles, and blitzes throwing absolute accurate balls with velocity to all three route levels (short, intermediate, and deep) on the football field.

The most underrated trait in Williams’ game is his ability as a runner. Williams has what I call being “slippery” in the open field. He does a great job setting up defenders with his elite shiftiness and ability to stop on a dime, cut back, and then run with his speed. This leaves defenders in a daze and constantly slipping off of him causing missed tackles.

However, Williams loves nothing more than to show off his arm strength and velocity. He is extremely confident/capable of hitting the deep post, wheel routes, deep in cuts, out routes, and go routes both on the move and in the pocket. Williams is also one of the greatest QBs in the RPO game. His ability to execute fakes sometimes left me and even the cameraman fooled. Also, his ability after the snap to get the ball and to make throws off the RPO with different feet posture, and arm angles is superb. With his elusive running, the USC RPO with Williams on the move is nearly impossible to stop. If a defender over-commits, he throws an accurate pass. If a defender plays the pass, he breaks the tackle and runs for an easy first down. Get caught sleeping on a fake RPO and the wheel route is coming right over your head.

Williams is the ultimate example of “Pick your Poison.”

Caleb Williams Kryptonite

As great as he is, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner is not perfect and without flaws.

As expected of a play-extending QB the caliber of Williams, too many times Williams is taking sacks or unnecessary hits holding the ball way too long. In almost every game I watched Williams is seen running from clean pockets into trouble looking for the big play. He’ll be evading pressure, but he’s so focused on making the big play that he continues going backward losing yardage. Heck, there are times he commits the ultimate sin of not throwing the ball away and just running out of bounds or worse throwing the ball up into double coverage.

Williams needs to learn that every play doesn’t need to be a big play.

It’s okay to throw to the underneath targets and let your playmakers earn that Name, Image, and Likeness money. My biggest concern about Williams is injury risk. NFL Defensive players are faster and they hit much harder. Panthers’ QB Bryce Young and Colts’ QB Anthony Richardson are already finding out that holding the ball too long in the NFL will get a QB hurt. Also, in the Pac-12 Championship Game vs. Utah, Williams injured his hamstring on that impressive 59-yard run. However, without his mobility the USC offense was dormant. The RPO game was non-existent in this same game, multiple times he stared down wide receivers including the game-sealing interception on a wheel route in the red zone. Williams did show guts and made some big throws in the pocket, but definitely let it be known there is work to be done to earn the title, “Face of the NFL.”

Scouting Report

Game Film Evidence (USC 2022)

UTAH (CCG)

Oregon State

UCLA

Washington State

Arizona

Dynamic athlete and QB with all pro potential traits. Elite elusiveness out of pressure and in the open field combined with elite arm talent makes him the most coveted prize of the 2024 Draft class. Master of the RPO. Must learn to trust playmakers and the offensive line more. Better in the pocket and with progressions than given credit for, but still needs work to reach the ultimate goal of being a franchise QB.

Tatum Round Grade: First-Round (Top-5)

Looking Forward To:

Seeing if Williams improves on flaws and his play vs. his team’s strong Pac-12 schedule in 2023.

Rashad Tatum has been a deep-rooted fan of football since his grandpa introduced him to the game at the age of five years old. He’s from Houston, Texas. He uses YouTube and All22 film to break down prospects to give his direct analysis of players. Rashad has a trained eye developed by his former high school coach Steve Strahan who was in the NFL and played at Baylor University. He currently covers the top-rated prospects in the NFL Draft for Firstroundmock.com. When writing about football he lives by the motto “Lover of football, fan of no team.”