Caleb Williams shared how head coach Lincoln Riley believed in him and told him not to give up.

Spencer Rattler and Caleb Williams (Via SB Nation/Imago)

Today, Caleb Williams is promptly known for his time as the star quarterback of the USC Trojans. He carved a path to become the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft after winning the Heisman Trophy in 2022. However, he didn’t possess the confidence he does today based on his quite-so-perfect college stats.

Williams had a brief stay in Oklahoma, where he was not the starting quarterback. He was a backup to Spencer Rattler. At the time, many chose Rattler had the potential to become the No. 1 pick and a Heisman Trophy winner. Williams struggled immensely to fight for the starting position, and the backup job fueled his spirit to overpower Rattler.

In a recent appearance on The Pivot podcast, hosted by Ryan Clark, Williams opened up about his initial position at Oklahoma. Caleb Williams revealed he did not find any satisfaction in having a backup role.

Cause I was best in the country. I told people before I went there that I was going to start, and play, and beat [Spencer Rattler] out. I thought I'd beat him out in [the] Spring and he's projected No. 1 and all of that.

Caleb Williams via The Pivot Podcast

Although the young quarterback didn’t remain backup for long, he knew from the very beginning what he deserved, and he wasn’t subtle about it, either. In the end, hard work and confidence prevailed over everything else.

How did Caleb Williams overcome frustration to seize the moment?

The USC star quarterback shared how head coach Lincoln Riley believed in him and told him not to give up. However, at that time, Williams struggled as he didn’t get reps with the first team. Having enough reps with the first team goes a long way in boosting the confidence of a player.

Caleb Williams (via IMAGO)
However, Williams was resilient and with a spirit of never giving up. So, he took advantage of the opportunities he got. The quarterback made the most out of the reps he was given, and ultimately he succeeded and flourished.

At the time, I was so angry, so frustrated because that wasn't what I wanted to hear because I felt like I was the best – But when I got my shot. Yeah, nothing else was going to happen other than me being the guy.

Caleb Williams via The Pivot Podcast

There are very critical people doubting Williams’ draft predictions. They believe there must be another quarterback more polished than him in his class due to the quarterback’s outspoken nature, which often attracts controversies. But it can’t be denied that Williams is a stand-out player – the most polished and confident of his class.