One AFC scout explained how University of Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams is similar to Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes.
“Every play is successful because he either throws on time or moves and makes it happen,” the scout said to ESPN. “He has that off-script Mahomes factor.”
Williams won the Heisman Trophy in the 2022 season, leading USC to an 11-3 record in his first season with the Trojans. He’s hoping to lead the team to more success in the 2023 season, as the squad would love to make the College Football Playoff.
He’s likely going to be one of the top quarterbacks drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, especially if he has another strong season in 2023.
During the 2022 season, Williams showcased why he is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in all of college football.
The Trojans quarterback threw for 4,537 yards, completing 333 of his 500 passes (66.6 percent) for 42 touchdowns and just five interceptions. The passing scores were a major step forward from his freshman season at the University of Oklahoma when he threw for 21 touchdowns in 11 games.
As a rusher, Williams carried the ball 113 times for 382 yards and 10 scores.
Comparing any quarterback to Mahomes is a massive compliment since the Chiefs quarterback is arguably the best quarterback in the NFL right now.
Mahomes has led the Chiefs to two Super Bowl wins, including last season’s Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles. A two-time league MVP, Mahomes has thrown for 192 touchdowns in his career and cleared 5,000 passing yards in multiple seasons.
The Chiefs quarterback has an uncanny ability to extend plays with his legs and then use his massive arm strength to push the ball down the field and create highlight-reel plays.
Mahomes’ off-script ability is among the best in the NFL, especially in a league that has seen mobility increase in quarterbacks in recent seasons.
Williams certainly has some major expectations to live up to if he’s drawing these comparisons, but everything he’s shown so far in his collegiate career suggests that he could be a star at the next level.
It will be interesting to see where Williams ends up landing in the 2024 NFL Draft, as he’ll likely be dubbed a potential savior of a franchise.
