Culver City Observer -

USC quarterback Caleb Williams has been named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, the award presented annually to college football's most outstanding player, today (Dec. 5).

Williams hopes to join the impressive fraternity of Trojan greats who have earned the award before him: Mike Garrett (1965), O.J. Simpson (1968), Charles White (1979), Marcus Allen (1981), Carson Palmer (2002), Matt Leinart (2004) and Reggie Bush (2005, later vacated).

In addition to USC's six official Heisman winners, Trojans have been represented as finalists six additional times: OJ Simpson (1967, second place), Anthony Davis (1974, second place), Ricky Bell (1975, third place), Ricky Bell (1976, second place), Rodney Peete (1988, second place) and Matt Leinart (2005, third place).

Williams has been instrumental in successfully turning around a program that went 4-8 in the 2021 season to a 11-2 team in 2022. The 7-victory increase from last season matches the biggest one-season turnaround in USC history. The other 7-game improvement was when the 1962 National Champion Trojans won 11 games after winning only 4 in the 1961 season.

Through 13 games, Williams has dazzled the nation with his elusive moves, his powerful arm and his thrilling runs. He has 47 TDs and 4 INTs. He is 296-for-448 (.661) for 4,075 yards. Williams has also rushed for 372 yards on 109 carries with 10 TDs. He has accounted for 47 total touchdowns (both passing and running) in 13 games. He broke the previous school record of 41 by Matt Barkley (2011) and Cody Kessler (2014).

Williams now has 4,447 total offensive yards in 2022, which ranks first on USC's single-season list (Sam Darnold previously held the record with 4,225 total yards in 2017). His 372 rushing yards this season is also the most by a USC QB in the last 70 years since complete records were available. The previous record was 342 by Jim Sears in 1952. Williams leads USC with 10 rushing TDs on the season.

Williams is No. 1 in the nation in in passing TDs (37). He is also No. 1 in the nation in points responsible for per game (21.7) and points responsible for (282). Williams is No. 3 in the nation in passing yards (4,075). He is No. 6 in the nation in passing efficiency (167.9), passing yards per game (313.5) and total offense (342.1). Williams is No. 7 in the nation in yards per pass attempt (9.10).

As an offense, USC is No. 3 in the nation and No. 1 in the Pac-12 in team passing efficiency (168.69). USC also leads the Pac-12 in passing yards per completion (13.75). USC is No. 4 in the nation in 3rd down conversion percentage (.516), No. 4 in the nation and leads the Pac-12 in scoring offense (41.1), No. 5 in the nation in total offense (499.8) and No. 5 in the nation in passing offense (325.7).

Williams is currently No. 7 on USC's Single Season Passing Leaders list with 296 completions. He is on pace to become USC's all-time single season passing leader.

Former Trojan Cody Kessler currently holds the USC record for the lowest rate of interceptions in a season with 1.1% (5 in 452 attempts in 2014). Williams is on pace to overtake that record since he is currently at 0.9% (4 in 407 attempts).

In addition to being named a Heisman Trophy finalist, Williams is also a finalist for the Manning Award, the Davey O'Brien Award and the Maxwell Award. He was named a PFF First Team All-American and to the PFF All-Pac-12 First Team. He was a two-time Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week and was named to the Allstate Good Works Team for his philanthropic efforts.

The Heisman Trophy winner will be announced on Saturday (Dec. 10) at a ceremony in New York City which will be televised on ESPN at 5 p.m. PT.

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