Statistics are a core piece of sports analysis. Whether you're in a debate with friends or writing an article for the internet, numbers have a constant...
USC QB Caleb Williams Confident He'll Play in Cotton Bowl Despite Hamstring Injury
Dec 15, 2022
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 10: Caleb Williams does the Heisman pose after winning the trophy during a press conference at theNew York Marriott Marquis Astor Ballroom on December 10, 2022 in New York, New York. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
It sounds like the Tulane Green Wave are going to have to deal with the Heisman Trophy winner in the Cotton Bowl.
USC quarterback Caleb Williams said he remains "confident" that he will play in the Jan. 2 bowl game despite suffering a hamstring injury during the Trojans' loss to Utah in the Pac-12 Championship Game, per Ryan Abraham of USCFootball.com.
While star players sitting out of bowl games has become rather commonplace at this point in college football, that is often done by players who are headed to the NFL draft.
Williams is still a sophomore and will be returning to USC next season, so the bowl game could be something of a kickstart to his 2023 campaign if he is healthy enough to play. Tulane isn't exactly a powerhouse program, but this is still a New Year's Six bowl and a chance for USC to make a statement after losing to the Utes.
Having the Heisman Trophy winner on the field is the best way to do just that.
He completed 66.1 percent of his passes for 4,075 yards and 37 touchdowns with four interceptions while adding 372 yards and 10 scores on the ground. His individual brilliance was often necessary because the Trojans struggled on the defensive side of the ball at times throughout the campaign.
Even with those defensive struggles, it seemed like the program was on the way to its first College Football Playoff as it went into the Pac-12 title game.
However, Utah bullied USC up front, had no trouble moving the ball against that lackluster defense, and controlled the second half of a 47-24 victory.
It certainly didn't help USC's cause that its star quarterback was limping around for much of the contest because of the hamstring injury, but it might not have made a massive difference given the way the game unfolded.
Williams is seemingly on the way back for the bowl game, though, and can get the Trojans heading in the right direction ahead of the 2023 campaign where he will be looking to join Ohio State's Archie Griffin as the only player in history to win two Heisman Trophies.
USC's Caleb Williams, Texas' Bijan Robinson Headline 2022 AP All-America Team
Dec 12, 2022
LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 02: USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) throws during the Pac-12 Championship football game between Utah Utes and USC Trojans on December 2, 2022 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams added first-team All-America honors to his resume when the Associated Press released its full teams Monday.
The USC quarterback made the first team ahead of TCU's Max Duggan, who earned second-team honors. Tennessee's Hendon Hooker was named third-team All-America despite not being named a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Running backs Bijan Robinson and Blake Corum headline the rest of the 2022 first team.
Linebackers: Ivan Pace Jr., Cincinnati; Jack Campbell, Iowa; Drew Sanders, Arkansas
Cornerbacks: Clark Phillips III, Utah; Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
Safeties: Kamren Kinchen, Miami; Christopher Smith, Georgia
Defensive back: Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU
Punter: Bryce Baringer, Michigan State
Williams put up impressive numbers throughout his first year with USC after transferring from Oklahoma. The quarterback tallied 4,075 passing yards with 37 touchdowns and just four interceptions, adding 10 rushing touchdowns.
USC fell short of a College Football Playoff berth after losing to Utah in the Pac-12 Championship Game, but Williams got his much-deserved individual recognition for an outstanding season.
With Williams, offensive guard Andrew Vorhees and defensive end Tuli Tuipulotu, USC had more first-team members than any other team in college football.
Corum was snubbed as a Heisman finalist, but the Michigan running back was named a first-team All-American as arguably the most valuable player for one of the best teams in the country. The junior rushed for 1,463 yards with 18 touchdowns in a breakout season for the Wolverines.
Robinson also impressed with his versatility, totaling 1,894 yards from scrimmage and 20 touchdowns in 12 games for Texas.
Marvin Harrison Jr. continued an impressive trend of elite Ohio State receivers and is the first Buckeyes receiver to become a consensus All-American since Terry Glenn in 1995, per Joey Kaufman of the Columbus Dispatch.
Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn made the first team for the second straight year as an all-purpose player after topping 1,800 yards from scrimmage again.
On defense, Alabama pass-rusher Will Anderson Jr. also earned his second straight first-team selection after totaling 10 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. Bleacher Report's Scouting Department lists Anderson as the top prospect in the 2023 class, and the junior showed it on the field.
USC QB Caleb Williams Praised for 'Incredible' Season After 2022 Heisman Trophy Win
Dec 11, 2022
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 10: Quarterback Caleb Williams of the USC Trojans speaks to the media during a press conference prior to the 2022 Heisman Trophy Presentation at New York Marriott Marquis Hotel on December 10, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
USC quarterback Caleb Williams is the winner of the 2022 Heisman Trophy, beating out Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett and TCU quarterback Max Duggan for the honor.
CALEB WILLIAMS IS THE 2022 HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER š
Williams is the seventh player from USC to win the Heisman Trophy, joining Mike Garrett (1965), O.J. Simpson (1968), Charles White (1979), Marcus Allen (1981), Carson Palmer (2002), Matt Leinart (2004) and Reggie Bush (2005).
Williams, who followed head coach Lincoln Riley to USC from Oklahoma for the 2022 campaign, had been the favorite to win the Heisman for the last several weeks. He is the sixth quarterback since 2016 to take home the award, joining Lamar Jackson, Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Joe Burrow and Bryce Young.
The 20-year-old led the Trojans to an 11-2 record this season. They finished first in the Pac-12 before falling to Utah in the conference championship game and missing out on a chance at the College Football Playoff. USC will instead play in the Cotton Bowl against Tulane.
Williams has completed 66.1 percent of his passes for 4,075 yards and 37 touchdowns against four interceptions in 13 games, in addition to rushing for 372 yards and 10 scores. He'll have the opportunity to add to those numbers in the Cotton Bowl.
Williams is now being praised for his "incredible" season, with many saying his Heisman Trophy is well-deserved:
Caleb Williams was incredible this year. What a season.
Great season for Caleb Williams. Dude is a gamer and a true leader at QB. Very deserving of the award. USC gets a winner for the first time since 2005. #HeismanTrophy
Caleb Williams won the Heisman and rightfully so. dude balled out and definitely earned my respect in the pac-12 title game clearly playing through injury and still leaving is heart on the field.
Caleb Williams is 20 years old. Heās got the presence and perspective of someone twice his age. Special player, special person. Heāll be a star for a long time to come.
There will likely be many more awards to come for Williams in his football career. He'll have at least one more season at USC before being eligible for the NFL draft, where he is expected to be a first-round pick.
Caleb Williams on Patrick Mahomes: Don't Think There's Anything He Does That I Can't
Dec 10, 2022
LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 02: USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) throws a pass during the Pac-12 Conference championship game between the Utah Utes and the USC Trojans at Allegiant Stadium on December 2, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
No one can accuse USC quarterback Caleb Williams of lacking self-confidence.
The 2022 Heisman finalist believes his skill set compares favorably to Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes.
"I always said even in high school that I don't think there's anythingāobviously, he's special, but I don't think there's anything that I can't do that he's doing out there," Williams told Zach Gelb of CBS Sports.
The comparisons between Williams and Mahomes have been ongoing throughout the 2022 season.
It's arguably an unfair comparison to make for Williams. Mahomes, now in his fifth season as a starting quarterback in the NFL, has completely warped what fans and analysts believe is possible at the position.
Throws like this are completely absurd, yet we just assume it's natural because Mahomes does something similar every single week.
Williams' raw ability might suggest he can make some plays that Mahomes does, but no one can predict it to happen before he proves it in the NFL.
Remember when draft analysts were comparing Zach Wilson's skill set to Aaron Rodgers?
For his part at least, Williams seems unfazed by the chatter.
None of the comparisons matter right now anyway because Williams isn't draft-eligible until 2024. He had a phenomenal sophomore season, throwing 4,075 yards and 37 touchdowns for the Trojans.
Williams will likely be rewarded with the Heisman Trophy for his efforts in 2022. He will almost certainly be the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft when next season begins.
The Heisman Trophy has typically been won by quarterbacks, and that will again be the case this season. The most prestigious individual award in college...
College Football Awards 2022: Results, Winners, Highlights and Twitter Reaction
Dec 9, 2022
LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 02: USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) looks on before the Pac-12 Conference championship game between the Utah Utes and the USC Trojans at Allegiant Stadium on December 2, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The College Football Awards doled out its annual collection of distinctions on Thursday night. Below, we'll go through the night's big winners.
Maxwell Award (college player of the year): Caleb Williams, USC
Quite the day for Williams, who also won the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and AP Player of the Year award:
The USC gunslinger threw for 4,075 yards, 37 touchdowns and just four interceptions while completing 66.1 percent of his passes. He was a threat on the ground as well, rushing for 367 yards and an additional 10 scores.
Williams is arguably the front-runner for the Heisman, so winning the Maxwell didn't come as a major surprise.
Chuck Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year): Will Anderson Jr., Edge, Alabama
Anderson is a force of nature off the edge, accumulating 51 tackles (17 for loss), 10 sacks, 12 quarterback hurries and an interception on the season. And that was despite facing regular double-teams this season after registering 17.5 sacks in 2021.
Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award (best quarterback): Max Duggan, TCU
This was a loaded category, with Ohio State's C.J. Stroud and USC's Williams also presenting strong cases. Both are Heisman finalists.
But Duggan, also a Heisman finalist along with Georgia's Stetson Bennett, has torched defenses all season, throwing for 3,321 yards, 30 touchdowns and just four interceptions while completing 64.9 percent of his passes. He also rushed for 404 yards and six scores.
TCU QB Max Duggan has won the Davey OāBrien Award.
First TCU player to win the QB honor that is named after the Horned Frog great.
Oluwatimi didn't allow a sack all season and only two pressures, headlining an offensive line that helped Michigan win the Big Ten title and a berth in the CFP. The Wolverines rushed for 243 yards per game this year, sixth in the country. Oluwatimi aided that charge.
Doak Walker Award (premier running back): Bijan Robinson, Texas
Every team knew Texas was going to build its game plan around Robinson, and it didn't matter. He still rushed for 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns, adding 19 catches for 314 yards and another two scores. He rushed for 200 or more yards twice on the season.
This was perhaps a touch of an upset, with Notre Dame's Michael Mayer posting superior stats (67 catches for 809 yards and nine touchdowns). But the award went to Bowers.
Biletnikoff Award (outstanding receiver): Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee
Another slight surprise, with Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. often considered the top wideout in the nation after catching 72 passes for 1,157 yards and 12 scores.
Jalin Hyatt: 8 REC TDs on 20+ yard throws this season
In a bit on an upset, Marvin Harrison Jr. was not selected as the winner of the Biletnikoff Award, which goes to the nationās top receiver. Tennesseeās Jalin Hyatt picked up the award.
But the Biletnikoff Award went to Hyatt, who did impress with 67 catches for 1,267 yards and 15 scores. It's fair to argue he had the better statistical season, though Harrison helped lead his team to another berth in the CFP.
Paycom Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back): Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU
Another award for TCU.
Hodges-Tomlinson has been excellent this season, with 42 tackles (two for loss), one forced fumble, three interceptions and 11 passes defensed.
Ray Guy Award (punter of the year): Adam Korsak, Rutgers
Korsak averaged 44 yards per punt on 75 total punts this year.
Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award (outstanding kicker): Christopher Dunn, NC State
Dunn was the picture of consistency this season, finishing 24-of-25 on field goals and 30-of-30 on extra points.
Home DepotCoach of the Year: Sonny Dykes, TCU
Dykes led TCU to a 12-1 record and a berth in the College Football Playoff, though the Horned Frogs fell short in the Big 12 title game against Kansas State. No matterāit was a superb season for TCU and a justified piece of hardware for its head coach.
Heisman Trophy finalists Caleb Williams and Max Duggan headline the list of recipients for Bleacher Report's awards from the 2022 college football season....
The end of the 2022 season is a bittersweet moment. While bowls and the College Football Playoff are still on the horizon, our weekdays are quieter and...
