Mario Williams USC commitment likely means no Caleb Williams for Auburn football

Auburn football fans have been holding out hope that QB Caleb Williams would be a Tiger since the unsatisfying conclusion of the 2021 season for both AU and OU.

Lincoln Riley’s departure from the Oklahoma Sooners program to become the new leading voice on the USC sideline set off a chain reaction of transfers from Norman.

WR Mario Williams’ decision has long been seen as a bellwether for what the 5-star QB would decide to do.

So, with Mario Williams’ choice of the USC Trojans to join the man that recruited him, there’s a strong pull to Los Angeles now for Caleb Williams as well.

Mario Williams’ USC Choice likely means no Caleb Williams for Auburn football

Oh well. There was a period of time where Caleb Williams to the Plains seemed plausible, but it was quite an implausible reason why that had many feeling that way.

Truthfully, though, Zach Calzada’s commitment to the Tigers was probably when the Williams-to-Auburn hype train should have reached the station. The Texas A&M transfer shed the backup label in 2021 and had the best win of the regular season over the Alabama Crimson Tide at Kyle Field.

Though his presence isn’t nearly as exciting as Williams’ would have been, he could still end up being the perfect fit for Bryan Harsin’s offense. His poise in the pocket and unwillingness to make risky throws should be stabilizing for an erratic attack last year under both Bo Nix at times and TJ Finley.

Calzada’s presence doesn’t automatically preclude the coaching staff from pursuing another passer in the transfer portal–it certainly did nothing to slow down the Caleb Williams rumors–but it should allow Tiger fans to take a breath and worry about the thinned out OL and WR depth that has taken a hit since the end of the 2021 season.