INDIANAPOLIS – Although former star USC quarterback Caleb Williams will have a lot to prove in the NFL, this much is already clear about the presumptive No. 1 overall pick during April’s NFL draft: He’s supremely confident.
Williams’ off-the-charts belief in himself was on display Friday morning as he answered a volley of reporters’ questions at the NFL scouting combine. Williams skillfully navigated all topics, including his surprising decision to break with norms in declining to undergo medical testing during the four-day, invitation-only event.
Not only does Williams’ body of work speak for itself, he believes, he also has no doubt where he’s headed. With the Chicago Bears having the draft’s top pick, Williams expressed, well, confidence that he’s headed to the Windy City.
“I don’t think I’m not gonna be [selected] No. 1,” Williams said at the Indiana Convention Center. “I put in all the hard work. All of the time, effort, energy into being that.
“I don’t think of a Plan B. That’s how I do things in my life. I stay on a Plan A. And then when things don’t work out, I find a way to make Plan A work.”
Nothing left to interpretation there.
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Williams, 22, was similarly blunt in discussing his eyebrow-raising decision to decline medical testing at the combine. It’s not uncommon for top quarterback prospects to opt out of passing drills at the combine and wait until their school pro days to throw for NFL scouts (Williams will be in action March 20 at USC’s pro day).
It’s highly unusual, however, for a combine participant to skip medical testing. The examinations are time-consuming, and often redundant, as medical personnel from all 32 clubs examine prospects. And there’s little deviation in the questions asked by each club, several NFL veterans told Andscape.
Still, the testing has become pro forma. Several longtime NFL executives said they were unaware of any other players through the years who had declined to participate.
For Williams, bucking the trend was no sweat.
“It was a decision by me and my team and my family,” he said. “It comes down do that.”
Williams will consent to medical testing after the combine, he said, but only with teams he agrees to meet with during pre-draft visits.
“Not 32 teams can draft me,” Williams said. “There’s only one of me.”
It would be easy to understand if Williams came across poorly to some NFL observers, who interpret his comments as being more cocksure than merely confident. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, however, is multifaceted.
First and foremost, people in USC’s football program say, Williams is a top-notch teammate. Even as he prepares to enter the NFL, Williams remains supportive of his former Trojans teammates.
Williams takes pride in being “a person that cares for his teammates,” he said. “I try to take care of all my guys, no matter if you’ve been fourth on the depth chart or you’re the starter. I care for my teammates.”
Then there’s Williams’ competitive drive.
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He leads both with his deeds and words. While at USC, Williams set the right example by being second to none on the team in preparation. And if a teammate needed a boost, Williams’ encouraging comments often helped.
As a sophomore at USC during the 2022-23 season, Williams completed 64.5% of his passes for 4,537 yards and 42 passing touchdowns with only five interceptions. He also added 10 rushing touchdowns en route to winning the Heisman trophy, which is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football.
Last season, USC aspired to be selected for the College Football Playoff. Things didn’t go as the Trojans hoped: They finished 8-5 and were unranked.
In 12 games as a junior (Williams sat out USC’s bowl victory over Louisville), Williams had the best completion percentage of his three-year college career: 68.6%. But his passing yards dropped to 3,633 and he had 12 fewer passing touchdowns.
From that adversity, Williams said, he has grown stronger.
After a particularly frustrating late-season loss, USC coach Lincoln Riley pulled aside Williams to talk about Williams’ future.
“Lincoln sat me down,” Williams said. “He said you either grow from something like that, or you keep feeling this feeling and you’ll stay where you are.”
Williams has moved on from USC and soon will be moving into the NFL, bringing all his swagger with him.
