USC's Caleb Williams, Lincoln Riley eye postseason run with retooled roster

LAS VEGAS — Coach Lincoln Riley and quarterback Caleb Williams return for their second season at USC to continue building upon the program’s return to national prominence.

The Trojans were projected to win the conference title in the Pac-12 preseason media poll that was revealed on Thursday. The team reached the Pac-12 title game last season but lost to Utah, failing to avenge a regular-season loss to the Utes.

Williams, the Heisman Trophy winner, completed 333 of 500 passes for 4,537 yards, 42 touchdowns and five interceptions in 14 games last season.

“He’s obviously been a key factor in this from a lot of different ways,” Riley said of Williams. “The situation last year was important for our program, but also I think for his learning and his growth. It was a great situation for him to be in, as well.

“He was challenged to not only play a full season but to lead and to really help jump-start a program, an offense, jump-start a culture. He did a tremendous job.”

Williams, listed on FanDuel Sportsbook as the current favorite to win the Heisman Trophy again at 5-1 odds, believes there is still room for improvement.

“We were up there in stats and rankings and stuff offensive-wise, but towards the end of the season we had a lot of guys go down offensive-wise, including myself,” Williams said. “That’s something we have been working on, building the muscle and the fortitude to be able to withstand a 15-game season.”

Williams said he’s heading into the 2023 season extra motivated after a hamstring injury marred his sophomore campaign. A victory over Utah in the Pac-12 title game might have catapulted USC into the four-team playoff, but Williams was dealing with the nagging injury and the Utes beat the Trojans, 47-24.

Had he been healthy for the game in the Trojans’ turnaround season – from 4-8 in 2021 to 11-2 and a Cotton Bowl bid in 2022 – Williams said he believes the Trojans would have enjoyed a different ending.

“I think when I’m on the field we got the best shot to win,” Williams said. “When I’m healthy, we got even a better shot to win. … Having a routine that I stick to throughout the season, whether it’s food, lifts, running, whatever the case may be, that’ll help me stay healthy for 15 games.”

Now, Riley and the rest of the Trojans are hoping the catalyst who helped thrust USC’s football program back into the national spotlight is ready for an encore performance.

“Great quarterbacks at the end of the day get defined by their teams’ success, their championships,” Riley said. “I know he’s very hungry to go close out this year with both. There is no one that I would rather go to war with than that guy.”

After adding 20 players via the transfer portal, including Williams, for the 2022 season, Riley added another 15 this year to help bolster the roster.

“We wanted guys that were dying to be a part of this program and sensed the opportunity that was there,” he said. “If we hadn’t had that feeling about anybody, we’d have separated and moved in the other direction.”

Receiver Dorian Singer (Arizona) and running back MarShawn Lloyd (South Carolina) add depth to the skill position group to make up for the loss of receiver Jordan Addison and running back Travis Dye, who are now on NFL rosters.

Singer had 66 receptions for 1,406 yards and six touchdowns at Arizona last season. Lloyd had 111 carries for 573 yards and nine touchdowns and 18 catches for 176 yards and two more TDs with the Gamecocks.

Senior linebacker Mason Cobb transferred in from Oklahoma State looking to help improve a defense that allowed 29.21 points and 423.94 yards per game in 2022.

“Really just trying to bring in the mentality on defense, bringing everyone together, allowing everyone to feel comfortable in the system I think is our biggest goal this year,” Cobb said.

“Working in-depth, trying to allow guys to not only learn what gap they have, who they’re guarding but why they need to step this way, limiting wasted movements, all that stuff.”

Cobb has left an early impression on Riley and was selected to represent the Trojans’ defense at Pac-12 media day, an honor usually given to team leaders or players who have spent significant time with the program.

Cornerback Tre’Quon Fegans (Alabama) and defensive lineman Bear Alexander (Georgia) also join the USC defense after spending time with SEC teams.

Whether or not he’s back at the lectern at the Heisman Trophy ceremony again, Williams has his eyes set on a bigger team goal.

“I play for championships,” he said. “I’d much rather hoist the golden trophy at the end, it means a lot more to me than the bronze trophy. And it doesn’t mean to disrespect the Heisman … but it’s more or less that’s why you go out there and play football.”

PRESEASON HONORS

USC had five preseason first-team conference selections, including Williams, Singer, defensive back Calen Bullock, punter Eddie Czaplicki and Raleek Brown as an all-purpose/special teams player.

Bullock had 88 total tackles, seven interceptions and 15 pass deflections in 2022. Czaplicki is expected to handle punting and kicking duties for the Trojans, after spending the past two seasons with Arizona State.

Brown had 402 total yards and six total touchdowns on offense as a true freshman last season. He had 517 yards on 24 returns on special teams.