Report: Caleb Williams, Underclassmen Will Now Be Eligible for CFB All-Star Games
Nov 8, 2023
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 04: Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 04, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
A change to the NFL draft process will give players like USC star quarterback Caleb Williams an extra chance to show their skills.
According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the league informed teams on Wednesday that underclassmen will now be eligible to play in college football All-Star games.
Pelissero added that the change will be put in place immediately for the 2024 NFL draft class.
"Upon the NFL publicly announcing that a player has been granted special eligibility, the East-West Shrine Bowl, HBCU Legacy Bowl, and Senior Bowl may invite such players to participate in their respective game activities," the league stated in a memo. "Only these three games are permitted to invite underclassmen to participate."
In recent years, there's been a growing trend of players who declare for the draft opting to sit out their teams' respective bowl games. Players such as Anthony Richardson, Will Levis and Bijan Robinson were among those who didn't participate in the postseason last year.
The All-Star games present a different attraction, as players have the opportunity to work directly with NFL coaches. Per NFL.com, the league "provides the coaching staff, game officials and four Legends captains" for the East-West Shrine Bowl, and "two NFL clubs equip each team with full coaching, training, video and equipment staffs to support" the Senior Bowl.
It will be interesting to see how players who are preparing for the draft navigate the bowl schedule and the All-Star games now that the pool has widened to include underclassmen. The East-West Shrine Bowl will take place on Feb. 1, followed by the Senior Bowl on Feb. 3 and the HBCU Legacy Bowl on Feb. 24.
Report: USC Fires DC Alex Grinch After Allowing 52 Points in Loss to Washington
Nov 5, 2023
Los Angeles, CA - November 04: USC Trojans defensive coordinator Alex Grinch screams at the defense after allowing Washington Huskies a TD on a 3rd and 18 play at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Los Angeles, CA. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
After Saturday's 52-42 loss to No. 5 Washington, USC felt the need to make a change.
According to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, the Trojans have dismissed defensive coordinator Alex Grinch. The Athletic's Chris Vianni added that Brian Odom and Shaun Nua will take over as co-defensive coordinators.
The loss to the Huskies (9-0) marked the third in the last four games for the Trojans (7-3). It was also the sixth straight game that USC surrendered more than 30 points on defense.
Saturday's loss also had further consequences for the Trojans. After entering the 2023 ranked No. 6, the team fell out of the AP Top 25 for the first time under head coach Lincoln Riley. It's the first time USC is unranked since former head coach Clay Helton led the team to a 4-8 record in 2021.
"I think our guys are frustrated that we've been so, so close and we haven't played good enough to be able to separate," Riley said after the game.
A longtime assistant who started his coaching career in 2002 as a graduate assistant at Missouri, Grinch originally joined Riley's staff when he was at Oklahoma in 2019. He followed Riley out West when he accepted the position at the helm of the Trojans after the 2021 season.
Grinch inherited a USC defense that struggled mightily to keep opponents out of the end zone, ranking 103rd in the nation in scoring defense at 31.8 points per game in 2021. The unit saw a marginal turnaround in its first year under Grinch, giving up 29.2 points per game in 2022. However, that number has jumped to 34.5 points per game this year, so Grinch's firing comes as little surprise.
USC will try to bounce back when it faces No. 6 Oregon (9-0) next Saturday.
RG3 on Caleb Williams Appearing to Cry in Video: NFL Teams Would Be Lucky to Have QB
Nov 5, 2023
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 21, 2023: USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams stays loose during a timeout in the 34-32 loss to Utah at LA Memorial Coliseum on October 21, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
USC star Caleb Williams was overcome with emotion after his team's 52-42 loss to Washington on Saturday night.
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner sought out his family in the first row along the Trojans sideline.
ESPN's Robert Griffin III thought the moment reflected well on Williams and showed why "any NFL team would be lucky to have him as their QB":
Watching Caleb Williams sobbing with his family after losing the game will BREAK YOUR HEART. This young man pours his heart out for his team EVERY TIME he plays. Any NFL team would be lucky to have him as their QB and this emotion shows how much this game means to him. @CALEBcswpic.twitter.com/BLBBE9IvG9
The full ramifications of the defeat appeared to be weighing on the junior quarterback.
The Trojans were basically eliminated from College Football Playoff contention before Saturday night, and suffering a second defeat in conference play is a massive blow to their hopes of competing for a Pac-12 title. For Williams, his Heisman Trophy campaign is in tatters despite going 27-of-35 for 312 yards and three touchdowns against Washington.
This season is in all likelihood Williams' last shot at winning a national title or joining Archie Griffin as a two-time Heisman honoree.
His father has entertained the idea the decorated signal-caller could put off the NFL for another year, an outcome that's at least plausible after the dawn of the NIL era. Williams could stick around in Los Angeles without sacrificing too much financially.
Spurning the pros will be tough, however, when he's widely considered one of the top players available in the 2024 draft class. He ranked second behind Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. in Bleacher Report's most recent big board and went No. 2 overall to thee Chicago Bears in B/R's mock draft.
Caleb Williams, USC Offensive Lineman Agree to NIL Contracts with Postmates
Oct 24, 2023
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 21: Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans warms up before the game against the Utah Utes at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 21, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
USC star quarterback Caleb Williams and his offensive line have agreed to NIL deals with food delivery service Postmates, according to Pete Nakos of On3.
You can see their commercial below:
USC QB Caleb Williams and his offensive line have signed NIL deals with Postmates👀
Williams, 21, is the defending Heisman Trophy winner and has thrown for 2,277 yards, 23 touchdowns and four interceptions, though the Trojans have lost two games in a row and watched their national title hopes go down the drain against Notre Dame and Utah.
The schedule doesn't get much more favorable, with matchups against No. 5 Washington, No. 8 Oregon and No. 23 UCLA in the final three weeks of the regular season.
USC could be in line for a disappointing season, in other words. But Williams and his offensive line will at least be eating good.
USC's Defense Slammed by Fans as Utah Comes Back Despite Caleb Williams' Brilliance
Oct 22, 2023
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 21: Utah Utes running back Ja'Quinden Jackson (3) finds a hole to run through during the college football game between the Utah Utes and the USC Trojans on October 21, 2023, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA.(Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Caleb Williams may be back in New York this December for the Heisman Trophy presentation.
But he and the USC Trojans will once again find themselves on their coach watching the College Football Playoff on tv following their second-consecutive loss of the season to the No. 14 Utah Utes in a battle of PAC-12 elites, a 34-32 defeat.
The Utes continue to be Williams' Kryptonite as the reigning Heisman winner has gone 0-3 against them. All three matchups have come in games crucial to USC's CFP hopes.
Williams was solid Saturday night, throwing for 254 yards and rushing for the go-ahead touchdown with just under two minutes remaining in the game, giving the Trojans a 32-31 lead.
However, the pivotal play of the game came on a 2nd-and-15 from USC's 45-yard line with 16 seconds left. Utah quarterback Bryson Barnes rushed for 26 yards, getting the first-down and setting up Cole Becker's game-winning 38-yard field goal.
A USC defense that has been underperforming all year, cost the Trojans once again.
And fans were ripping the unit following the loss.
USC being in prime position to hang on for dear life and win only for Alex Grinch’s defense to allow Bryson Barnes to scramble for 26 yards and set up the game-winning field is just so perfect
The Trojans will try to end the losing streak as they take on in-state rivals Cal next Saturday, a team towards the bottom of the PAC-12 standings. So, it shouldn't be a problem for USC, in theory at least
USC's Caleb Williams 'Not Worried' About Notre Dame Fan Trolling with Postgame Video
Oct 19, 2023
SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 14: USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) on the sideline during the college football game between the USC Trojans and Notre Dame Fighting Irish on October 14, 2023, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Caleb Williams responded to a fan who rushed up to him on the field following USC's 48-20 loss to Notre Dame last Saturday.
The Fighting Irish fan chastised Williams' tradition of painting his nails before every game, a routine that the 21-year-old has embraced since high school.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the signal-caller responded (via Shehan Jeyarajah of CBS Sports).
"I'm not worried about some kid running on the field that doesn't have anything really associated to Notre Dame other than possibly their family going there or him going there himself," Williams said. "Got a lot of guys over here that I've got to lead, so some opinion of a sheep, lions don't worry about that stuff. Keep moving on. Keep fighting. Fight on."
His performance against Notre Dame was arguably the worst of his collegiate career, throwing for just 199 yards and one touchdown against three interceptions. It was the first time Williams had thrown three picks in a game, and the first instance since his days as an Oklahoma Sooner that he produced multiple turnovers through the air.
While he's still having a phenomenal season, his Week 7 performance dealt a blow to the possibility of Williams winning the Heisman Trophy in back-to-back years.
USC head coach Lincoln Riley was just as surprised by his quarterback's poor performance as most fans were, according to Luca Evans of The Orange County Register.
"The reality is, you go back and look at that tape and all three of those turnovers, for example, there's wide-open people running around," Riley said. "We gotta finish those plays. We had some opportunities to make a few plays, but we didn't."
Williams will have the chance to respond on the field when the Trojans host No. 14 Utah on Saturday. They'll be in for a challenge, as the Utes' defense is allowing a mere 12.17 points per game. That's the fifth-best average of all FBS schools.
Kickoff between the two Pac-12 teams is at 8 p.m. ET.
Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman: Caleb Williams 1 of the Best CFB Players I've Ever Seen
Oct 15, 2023
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - OCTOBER 14: Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans warms up prior to the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on October 14, 2023 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams may have had a rough outing in Saturday's 48-20 loss to Notre Dame, but Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman still believes the rising star is one of the best players to ever step onto the field.
"He is one of the best college football players that I've ever seen," Freeman told reporters after the game. "All I kept telling our guys is we have a plan and you have to attack. You can't let him go out and be the Heisman Trophy winner that he is."
Williams put together arguably the worst game of his USC career on Saturday night as he completed just 23 of 37 passes for 199 yards and one touchdown against three interceptions.
The 21-year-old entered Saturday's game having thrown 22 touchdowns against just one interception in six games, so it was shocking to see him throw three picks in a single game for the first time in his career.
Williams hadn't thrown more than one interception in a game since his freshman season at Oklahoma.
"I told Coach [Al Washington], when you see those guys sub, roll guys. We have to have relentless rushers against Caleb Williams," Freeman added of Notre Dame's game plan against the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.
Prior to Saturday's loss, Williams looked like one of the top candidates to win the Heisman, but now fans and pundits are questioning his candidacy for the award, especially with players like Washington's Michael Penix Jr. putting together impeccable seasons.
Luckily for Williams, there's still plenty of time for him to re-establish himself among the top contenders for the Heisman. After winning the award last year, he's looking to become the first player—and second ever—since former Ohio State running back Archie Griffin in 1974-75 to earn the honor in back-to-back seasons.
The Trojans (6-1) will look to get back on track next weekend against the Utah Utes. Notre Dame (6-2), meanwhile, will look to keep the momentum going against Pitt on Oct. 28 after their bye week.
Caleb Williams' Heisman Candidacy Questioned by Fans After USC's Loss to Notre Dame
Oct 15, 2023
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - OCTOBER 14: Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans reacts after throwing a interception to Xavier Watts #0 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (not pictured) during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium on October 14, 2023 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams is human after all.
The presumptive No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft likely played himself out of the Heisman Trophy favorite conversation on Saturday night in a 48-20 loss to the No. 21 Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Notre Dame had Williams' number all night, holding him to 23 of 37 for 199 yards and one touchdown against three interceptions. It was his worst performance of the 2023 campaign and perhaps the worst of his college career.
Williams was eventually replaced by Miller Moss late in the fourth quarter with Notre Dame up big.
After the game, college football fans on X, formerly known as Twitter, were quick to criticize Williams and question his Heisman Trophy candidacy:
Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is likely now the sole frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy.
Penix led the Huskies to a 36-33 win over the Oregon Ducks on Saturday to keep Washington undefeated this season (6-0). He completed 22 of 37 passes for 302 yards and four touchdowns against one interception in the win.
Williams isn't entirely out of the Heisman conversation, but his candidacy is certainly in question following a disastrous performance against Notre Dame. That being said, there's still plenty of season left.
The Trojans (6-1) will be back in action next weekend against Utah looking to rebound from a tough loss to the Fighting Irish (6-2).
Bears, Giants, Vikings, Among Teams with GMs Scouting Caleb Williams, USC vs. ND
Oct 14, 2023
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 07: Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans warms up prior to the game against the Arizona Wildcats at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 07, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
If you're an NFL team with a bad record that could potentially be in position to select a quarterback near the top of the 2024 draft, odds are good you have scouts in South Bend for the USC-Notre Dame game on Saturday night.
Per ESPN's Adam Rittenberg, general managers for the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants are among those with press-box seats at Notre Dame Stadium to watch Caleb Williams and the Trojans take on the Fighting Irish.
NFL general managers with seats in the press box at Notre Dame tonight to see Caleb Williams and others: Brandon Beane (Bills), Ryan Poles (Bears), Kwesi Adofo-Mensah (Vikings) and Joe Schoen (Giants).
Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane obviously doesn't need a quarterback, but it's not like Williams is the only player in this game who is going to get drafted in April.
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has eight combined USC and Notre Dame players in the top 10 of their respective positions on his most recent big board update.
Williams is the highlight player from that group as the No. 1 overall prospect. Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt checks in at No. 9 overall. Notre Dame's Audric Estime is Kiper's top running back.
The Bears, Vikings and Giants are all in play for the top pick at this point in the NFL season. All three teams enter Week 6 with identical 1-4 records.
Chicago would own the No. 1 selection if the season ended today because it would get the Carolina Panthers' first-rounder stemming from the deal made in March that allowed the Panthers to move up and select Bryce Young first overall this year.
In addition to the Panthers' pick, the Bears' own selection is currently at No. 3 overall. Justin Fields has played well in the past two weeks with 617 yards, eight touchdowns and one interception.
There's still been more bad than good from Fields this season, but he could at least give the Bears something to think about by the time the draft rolls around if he continues to ascend.
The Vikings would pick fourth, followed by the Giants at sixth if the season ended today. The Denver Broncos (No. 2), New England Patriots (No. 6) and Arizona Cardinals (No. 7) are the other one-win teams going into Week 6.
Minnesota won't have Justin Jefferson for at least the next four games due to a hamstring injury. ESPN's Adam Schefter also speculated the superstar wide receiver may not rush back because he's still seeking a long-term contract extension, and may not have an incentive to get on the field if the team is out of playoff contention.
Head coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters this week the Vikings expect Jefferson to return at some point. There's also the issue of Kirk Cousins being in the final season of his contract and what the team plans to do at quarterback in the future.
The Giants need help at virtually every position right now. The offense and defense rank in the bottom four in the league in points per game. Left tackle Andrew Thomas, defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence are possibly the only long-term foundation pieces currently on the roster.
Daniel Jones' contract does make it difficult to move on if the Giants want to bring in a new quarterback after this season. The team would have a $47.1 million dead-cap hit if he's released as a post-June 1 cut in the offseason.
It's not an ideal use of resources, but it end up being the best of many bad options if Jones isn't able to turn things around this season.
If Williams ends up being as good in the NFL as seemingly every analyst expects him to be, taking on a big one-year cap hit by releasing a quarterback who wasn't working out won't be an issue at all.
USC WR Zachariah Branch Reportedly Is a Game-Time Decision vs. Notre Dame with Injury
Oct 14, 2023
TEMPE, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 23: Wide receiver Zachariah Branch #1 of the USC Trojans runs with the football during the second half of the NCAAF game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium on September 23, 2023 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
USC could be without wide receiver Zachariah Branch for Saturday's showdown against Notre Dame.
Per ESPN's Pete Thamel, Branch is a game-time decision as he deals with an undisclosed injury.
Branch was one of the top recruits in head coach Lincoln Riley's 2023 freshman class. He was a 5-star prospect and No. 7 overall player coming out of Bishop Gorman High School, per 247Sports.
The early returns for Branch have been very promising with 13 receptions for 178 yards. He accounted for four touchdowns in his first three games, including two receiving and two on special teams.
An injury has kept Branch out of USC's wins over Colorado and Arizona in the past two weeks. Riley has been vague about the nature of Branch's injury, though he told reporters earlier this week the Las Vegas native is "progressing" despite not being able to practice in full.
"He still hasn't been a full participant yet. I do think he's making progress. We'll kind of watch and see. He's going to need to continue to make some jumps here to be ready for us, so hopefully he can continue to progress over the next few days. He's at a better place than he was last week, but he's not able to do everything yet. He's eager, but we obviously want to be smart and make sure that we turn him loose at the right time."
Thamel noted Branch did make the trip to South Bend with his teammates, but an official decision on his status will be made during pregame warmups.
The No. 10 Trojans are off to a 6-0 start, but they have dropped in the Associated Press Top 25 rankings in each of the past three weeks because of close calls against unranked competition. The defense has allowed more than 40 points in each of the past two games.
Saturday will be USC's first game against a ranked opponent. The 21st-ranked Fighting Irish have lost two of their last three games, including a 33-20 defeat at Louisville in which the offense turned the ball over five times.
USC defeated Notre Dame, 38-27, at the Coliseum last season.
