Caleb Williams transferring to USC to reunite with Lincoln Riley, leaving OU football after one season

NORMAN — Caleb Williams and Lincoln Riley are teaming up again.

After a season at OU in which he took over as the Sooners’ starting quarterback midway through the season, then stuck around to play in the Alamo Bowl after Riley’s departure to USC, Williams is transferring to Los Angeles and the Trojans.

Williams told ESPN's Pete Thamel he planned to join Riley in Los Angeles.

"I wanted to go somewhere I thought would provide me with the best development both on and off the field," Williams told ESPN. "Getting to know Coach Riley and gaining familiarity with his offense definitely played a part in my selection, as well as already knowing some (of) the guys on the team."

Tramel: OU loved Caleb Williams yesterday, but in college football, yesterday's gone

Williams joins Mario Williams and Latrell McCutchin as Sooners transferring to USC.

Caleb Williams leaves the Sooners after a season in which he threw for 1,912 yards and 21 touchdowns and ran for 442 yards and six more scores.

He became the Sooners’ first true freshman starter at quarterback since Cale Gundy in 1990.

More: Who are the Sooners targeting to round out the 2022 class? Meet Jaxson Dart and more candidates

Dillon Gabriel set to replace Caleb Williams as OU's starting QB

Without Williams, Central Florida transfer Dillon Gabriel is the favorite to start at quarterback for the Sooners in 2022.

Gabriel threw for 8,041 yards and 70 touchdowns with 14 interceptions over the last three seasons before suffering a shoulder injury in the closing moments of the Sept. 17 loss to Louisville.

Later in the season, Gabriel announced his decision to transfer, and ultimately wound up joining his former Knights’ offensive coordinator, Jeff Lebby, in Norman.

The Sooners signed Nick Evers, a four-star prospect from Flower Mound, Texas, in December.

OU also has Penn State transfer Micah Bowens and walk-ons Ralph Rucker and Ben Harris on the roster. Rucker was the Sooners’ No. 3 quarterback in 2021.

Williams committed to the Sooners on July 4, 2020, and quickly made an impact on OU’s recruiting as the organizing force of the Sooner Summit.

With the COVID-19 pandemic changing the landscape of recruiting nationally, Williams and his family organized the event, which brought together a handful of committed and uncommitted prospects in the 2021 and 2022 classes.

The Sooners eventually picked up commitments from 2021 wide receiver Jalil Farooq and offensive lineman Savion Byrd and 2022 athlete Gentry Williams and offensive lineman Jacob Sexton from among the attendees. The Sooners held onto commitments of wide receiver Cody Jackson, offensive tackle Cullen Montgomery, safety Jordan Mukes and linebacker Danny Stutsman from the 2021 class and linebacker Kobie McKinzie from the 2022 class. Gentry Williams has yet to sign but remains committed to the Sooners.

Tramel: Conference realignment shows the Big 12 should make its divisions based on geography

Caleb Williams was central figure in OU's 2021 recruiting class

Caleb Williams moved to Norman even before he finished high school, schooling virtually as he got acclimated to OU.

Williams focused on Riley and the Sooners even before he was seriously targeted. During the period when Brock Vandagriff was committed to OU in the latter half of 2019, Williams expressed a willingness to walk-on with the Sooners.

But Vandagriff decommitted on New Year’s Day 2020 and quickly Williams became OU’s primary target.

Even after Williams arrived at OU, his chances of making a major contribution on the field in 2021 looked remote, as Spencer Rattler entered the season as the Heisman Trophy favorite after leading the Sooners to eight consecutive wins to end the 2020 season.

But just as he did when he declared that he would walk on if not offered a scholarship, Williams went to work.

“If and when I get the chance, I will not give it back,” Williams told Justin Broiles in the summer before his freshman season.

Though Williams had cameos in wins over Tulane and Kansas State, and got an extended look in the second half of a blowout victory over Western Carolina, that chance came in the sixth game of the season — in the Red River Showdown against Texas on Oct. 9.

On the first play of the second quarter, Williams came on for one play, and took advantage with a 66-yard touchdown run.

But Rattler came back into the game for the next two drives.

When Rattler was sacked and lost a fumble midway through the quarter, and then Texas scored to go ahead 35-17, Williams came into the game not as a novelty but with a chance to seize the job.

He did that.

More: Here are the OU football players in the transfer portal & those declared for the 2022 NFL Draft

Williams led the Sooners to a field goal on his first drive. By late in the third quarter, OU still trailed 41-23 and looked like it had little chance of pulling off the victory.

Williams led the Sooners to touchdowns on four of their last six drives, hitting Marvin Mims for a pair of touchdowns to help OU pull off the improbable comeback, vaulting Williams onto the national stage.

Two weeks later, Williams struggled against Kansas but also pulled off two fourth-down conversions that helped the Sooners avoid an upset.

When Riley announced he was leaving the Sooners, it was widely expected that Williams would follow him. He tweeted appreciation for Riley and retweeted teammates doing the same.

“We were all shocked,” Williams said later. “We were all hit by it at the same time, same moment, so that’s how it’s been — up and down.”

After Lincoln Riley's exit to USC, Caleb Williams led OU to Alamo Bowl win

While Rattler transferred quickly — ultimately landing at South Carolina — Williams remained with the Sooners during their preparation for the Alamo Bowl, walking over from the locker room to the indoor practice facility for Brent Venables’ introduction as Riley’s successor.

And Williams turned in one of his best games of the season in the Sooners’ 47-32 win over Oregon, throwing for 242 yards and three touchdowns and running for 34 yards.

More: Sooners and Cowboys both in mix of early look at Top 25 for 2022 college football season

After the game, Williams said he would take time to vacation with his family before making a decision on his future.

Williams’ answer added a layer of unease for Sooners fans who had hoped the quarterback would declare his intentions to remain.

A few days later, Williams announced his decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal, saying he needed to enter the portal in order to speak to other schools.

Williams’ announcement also brought a response from Venables and athletic director Joe Castiglione, who released a joint statement saying they hoped to convince Williams to remain.

Not long after Williams’ announcement, Gabriel announced his decision to reverse course and transfer to OU from UCF instead of going to UCLA.

Williams visited USC in early January and signs quickly pointed to Williams joining the Trojans.

Shortly after Riley arrived in Los Angeles, two-time All-Pac 12 quarterback Kedon Slovis transferred from USC to Pitt.

On Jan. 13, just after Williams visited Los Angeles, another Trojans quarterback, Jaxson Dart, entered the portal as well.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Caleb Williams transferring to USC, leaving OU football after 1 season