It is no secret that the NCAA transfer portal has drastically affected the landscape of college football. Since the portal was created back in 2018, college football roster construction has turned into a very different endeavor than it was prior.
Recently, CBS Sports released their ranking of the most impactful college transfers of the portal thus far. Former USC quarterback Caleb Williams made the list, coming in at No. 5.
Here is what they had to say about Williams:
“Williams achieved nearly everything possible during his two years at USC, except a conference title and a College Football Playoff berth,” writer Cody Nagel wrote. “That caveat tempers his status among top transfers of the portal era. After following Lincoln Riley from Oklahoma, Williams delivered a Heisman Trophy-winning campaign in 2022. His off-script playmaking ability set him apart, but he also put up eye-popping numbers: 8,170 passing yards, 72 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions, along with 21 rushing touchdowns. Williams raised the ceiling for USC’s offense, but without the overall team success to match, his legacy as a transfer remains more individual than program-altering.”
Williams certainly had plenty of highlight reel plays during his time at USC. Ultimately, however, the lack of team success that the Trojans had on the field during his time in Cardinal and Gold—even though much of it was not his fault—somewhat detracts from Williams’s college football legacy, pushing him down to No. 5 on the list.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: CBS Sports ranks Caleb Williams as one of the most impactful transfers in portal era
Reporting by Adam Bradford, Trojans Wire / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
