Might the departure of the nation’s top quarterback prospect actually turn out to be a positive, not just for teams like UCLA or others in the Big Ten?

USC football head coach Lincoln Riley believes that despite losing one of college football’s top players over the past two years, Williams‘ exit could have a silver lining for the team.

“It honestly can be a positive. Tennessee won their first championship here in the modern era the year after Peyton Manning left,” Riley told Rick Pizzo via Big Ten Football on YouTube. “A lot is made of it because when you have a player who wins awards or achieves great things like Caleb did for us, there’s a lot of external attention on that individual, but football is still a team game … While it’s great to have those guys, we’re in a building phase. Historically, when we’ve lost No. 1 picks or Heisman winners, there’s always been concern about how we’ll fare the next year, but we’ve managed to do well. I think we’ll do the same again.”

The 2023 season underscored Riley’s point that football is about the collective effort and not solely reliant on one or two stars. Even with Williams, USC struggled defensively, ranking 116th nationally by allowing an average of 34.4 points per game, while the offensive line struggled to protect the quarterback.

With Williams no longer on the roster, the Trojans recognize the need to move away from dependence on individual players and instead focus on team rebuilding, particularly on defense. They brought in former UCLA defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn to overhaul their defensive strategy, a move that paid off with a strong defensive showing at the USC Spring Game, highlighted by five turnovers. This signals a shift towards a more resilient defense for the upcoming season.

Offensively, while Williams’ absence leaves a void, USC is confident in their quarterback depth moving forward. Miller Moss is poised to take over as the starter after backing up Williams, complemented by sophomore Jayden Maiava, the Mountain West Freshman of the Year. Looking ahead, USC also anticipates the arrival of Julian Lewis, a five-star recruit ranked No. 2 in the Class of 2025 by ESPN. With Riley’s expertise in quarterback development, there is optimism for USC’s prospects next season, even in the absence of Williams.

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