Roy Williams makes Hall of Fame
Roy Williams makes Hall of Fame
'Superman' is the next Sooner to join the prestigious club nearly two decades since the end of his dominant college career
βπ½ Happy Tuesday, friends. Letβs ride.
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π Rare company
Former Oklahoma safety Roy Williams was named to the 2022 College Football Hall of Fame Class on Monday. He is one of 18 players that will be inducted into the exclusive fraternity later this year on Dec. 6.
A look back at Williamsβ accomplishments:
2001 Nagurski Award Winner (college footballβs most outstanding defensive player)
2001 Thorpe Award Winner (college footballβs best defensive back)
2001 unanimous All-American
2001 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year
No. 8 overall pick to Dallas in the 2002 NFL Draft
Five-Time Pro Bowl Selection (2003-07)
Williams joined ESPNβs Alabama-Georgia pregame show on Monday. His words on getting into the Hall of Fame: "It still hasn't hit yet. They sent a football and a little note, saying that there's 5.4 million college athletes that played and only 1,038 have gotten in (to the Hall of Fame), and I'm a part of that now. Like whoah. ... It's an honor. It's a testament to my teammates. I'm grateful for even being considered.β
Williams joins the likes of Rickey Dixon, Brian Bosworth and Road Shoate as recent former OU defensive players to make the Hall of Fame. OU will have 23 former players in the Hall following Williams' induction.
π Off to LA?
Oklahoma freshman quarterback Caleb Williams has yet to announce whether or not heβll transfer this offseason. Another quarterback job has opened, however, with Jaxson Dart, Southern Calβs 2021 starter under center, hitting the transfer portal on Monday.
What this means: The path has been completely cleared for Williams to reunite with Lincoln Riley at Southern Cal. The Soonersβ star freshman had a busy weekend, sharing videos of his time at both the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Lakers games on Sunday to his Instagram account. The next day, Dart found his way into the portal, meaning a Williams decision could be coming soon with all signings pointing to USC.
Whatβs next for OU: The Sooners were likely aware life without Williams was where all of this was headed. Luckily for OU, new offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby has Central Florida transfer Dillon Gabriel already committed to joining the Sooners and it doesnβt appear the Sooners are done taking QBs out of the portal. Florida State quarterback Chubba Purdy, a Class of 2022 four-star dual-threat prospect and brother of Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy, announced he received an offer from OU. The Sooners could also make a play for Dart, who was a Class of 2021 four-star prospect and threw for 1,353 yards and nine touchdowns as a true freshman this past season.
π Way-too-early rankings
College football media is often predictable when it comes to content.
For example, you can always expect the major outlets to drop βway-too-early rankingsβ immediately after each yearβs national championship game.
ESPN, of course, delivered a spicy βway-too-earlyβ top 25 that in no way should be taken seriously.
But for those curious, the Sooners checked in at No. 17. And if youβd like to get upset at these meaningless rankings, OU is behind two other Big 12 schools in the top 25 β Oklahoma State and Baylor.
π Read options
Oklahoma's Caleb Williams, Mario Williams crystal-balled to USC by 247Sports (read at soonerswire.usatoday.com)
CFP expansion talks stall and frustration boils over for one conference commissioner (read more at yahoo.com)
The New Place Where College Footballβs Crazies Are Arguing (read at wsj.com)
Browns plan to move forward with Baker Mayfield as their QB (read at nfl.com)
π° On this day
Twenty-one years ago today, former OU head football coach Barry Switzer was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Switzer coached at OU from 1966-88, serving as offensive coordinator until he was promoted in 1973. He finished his head coaching career at OU with three national titles and a 157-29-4 record. He also helped OU capture 12 Big Eight championships.