Caleb Williams is the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback recruit in the nation and heās down to his three finalists, but will he commit to Oklahoma, LSU or local Maryland?
Caleb Williams is down to three finalists with Oklahoma, LSU and Maryland still alive for the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback and the No. 5 overall recruit in the nation. But where will he go?
Williams, a 6-foot-2, 209-pound recruit threw 19 touchdowns last year and ran for another 18 for Gonzaga high school in Washington D.C. That production and dual-threat skill-set has the top programs in the nation competing for him.
āI really feel like those schools are the best schools for me overall, not just for football,ā Williams said via his recruiting diary on Sports Illustrated. āI really feel like those schools can provide me the best opportunity academically and with my football career with the connections Iāve built with the coaches, the fans and the connection my parents and everybody has built with the coaches. The feel with all of those places, it just feels right.ā
You may see Maryland in a finalist group with Oklahoma and LSU and raise an eyebrow. Williams didnāt dismiss the local program and has developed a relationship with head coach Mike Locksley and assistant Scottie Montgomery. That said, the Terps are a clear No. 3 in his list of three.
The race for Williams comes down to Oklahoma vs. LSU. This is a rematch of last yearās Sugar Bowl, won by LSU, but I think this battle will be won by the Sooners.
āLincoln has spent a lot of time with Caleb,ā Williamsā father Carl tells 247Sports. āHeās done a really good job in showing how they can work together.ā
Itās hard to find a better developer of quarterbacks at the college level than Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley. He turned Baker Mayfield from a former walk-on to a Heisman winner and No. 1 pick. He turned Kyler Murray from a former five-star recruit who thought he had a future in baseball to a Heisman winner and No. 1 pick. He then took Jalen Hurts who was discarded by Alabama and turned him into the Heisman runner-up and a second round pick. Thatās awfully impressive when only one year earlier he was viewed as a prospect who would go undrafted.
That track record is why I predict Williams to ultimately commit to the Oklahoma Sooners.
Oklahoma lost the commitment of Brock Vandagriff, who is the No. 12 overall recruit and No. 2 dual-threat behind Williams. The loss could be a big win for the Sooners.
Williams visited Norman with his parents and some of his coaches in March. Since then, everything has been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of taking in spring games and unofficial visits to campuses, Williams has seen his visits take place on Zoom instead. That could play a role in Oklahoma extending their lead over other competitors like Penn State, for example, who failed to make his list of finalists.
Expect Williams to make his commitment later this summer and for that decision to take him to Oklahoma.
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