For months, USC quarterback Caleb Williams has been presumed to be the first overall pick in the 2024 draft. And he might be. But the naysayers might have picked up a little ammunition on Saturday.
Beyond Williams’s Trojans losing to UCLA, 38-20, to fall to 7-5, Williams snubbed reporters.
Via Greg Beacham of the Associated Press, Williams refused to speak to reporters after USC’s fifth loss in sixth games — and possibly his last college game.
USC is bowl eligible. If Williams is leaving for the NFL, he has no reason to play in whatever mid-level bowls that invite 7-5 teams.
In theory, Williams could be the first player to skip a bowl game before deciding whether to enter the NFL draft. One of his options will be to return to USC. But he won’t be able to make a fully informed decision until he knows the draft order.
That won’t happen until after the bowls involving 7-5 teams have been played.
