Jordan Palmer says why USC Football's Caleb Williams is "next Mahomes"
By Evan Desai
Famed QB Coach and brother of legendary USC Football QB Carson Palmer, Jordan Palmer, believes that Trojan QB1 Caleb Williams is "the next (Patrick) Mahomes." Of course, part of that is due to his abilities on the field. He's got a cannon for an arm, and has elite playmaking abilities with his legs. It's led to great numbers for SC this year.
He's averaging 10 adjusted passing yards per attempt this season, and has already tossed 19 touchdowns on the season. USC's only played nine games so far this year...He's also only thrown one pick--his only turnover of the season. He's added on 235 rushing yards on the ground, with three rushing touchdowns too.
Keep in mind that he's doing this in his first year with a new program. A program that was coming off of a 4-8 year when he transferred over. He's now 6-1 on the year. And that goes into what Palmer was saying. It wasn't just Williams' abilities that Jordan was referring to. He broke down all the adversity Williams has gone through, and defeated every time.
"He's the next Mahomes...In a time where we have a lot of bright young stars, it's not just his physical ability, it's the maturity," said Jordan.
USC Football QB Caleb Williams certainly has shown an absurd amount of maturity for a 19-year-old.
There are going to be other QB's just as talented, or almost just as talented as USC Football QB Caleb Williams as he moves up the ladder in this game. Williams' maturity, and ability to handle pressure/adversity, has put him above the rest of the crop though when compared to many of his counterparts.
"If you look at Mahomes, Mahomes didn't deal with being an NFL franchise quarterback until his second year in the league. This kid was the MVP of the Elite 11, he was the No. 1 recruit in the country. He came off the bench in a historic Red River shootout game last year as a true freshman--unseating Spencer Rattler, who everyone had as the No. 1 pick in the Mock Drafts and the Heisman. He took him out, and then he goes to SC. He's been through and experienced a lot of what NFL franchise quarterbacks experience, and he's experienced it at a young age. And he's undefeated at handling that. "
- Jordan Palmer, Famed QB Coach
And Jordan would know, after all. He's been the QB coach for many big-name NFL Quarterbacks such as Joe Burrow and Josh Allen. He obviously was around his brother a lot, too. He even played in the NFL himself for six years. One of the coolest parts about what he had to say regarding Williams was also what he had to say about USC.
After all, it's the best QB factory in the country. It's at least restored that status now that Lincoln Riley's the head coach. Riley coached up two Heisman winners (Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray), and another Heisman runner-up (Jalen Hurts) before he was able to develop Williams.
He's four for four, and all three of those quarterbacks before Williams were drafted within the first two rounds. Mayfield and Murray were drafted first overall. And while Mayfield has played poorly in the NFL, Murray made each of the last two Pro Bowls (in just his second and third years in the league), and Hurts is currently a standout starting QB on a 6-0 team.
"With (Williams), and the guidance and leadership of Lincoln Riley, and the brand that is SC and the brand that SC's about to become again; this guy's poised to have a lot of success, whatever comes his way," said Jordan.
It's no secret that NFL scouts are going to like that Williams has already been thrown to the fire and succeeded every time he was thrown to the wolves. He's a Heisman contender, and only in his second year of college football, and his first year starting a full season. It's no wonder Jordan has this type of praise for one of the nation's best of the best.