USC’s Caleb Williams unsure for bowl with hamstring damage

USC beginning quarterback and main Heisman Trophy candidate Caleb Williams has a “important” hamstring damage, and his standing for the Trojans’ matchup in opposition to Tulane within the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 2 is but to be decided, coach Lincoln Riley stated Sunday.

“These issues, hamstrings are completely different for everyone, however the nature of that is fairly extreme,” Riley stated in the course of the bowl’s coaches information convention. “We’ll rehab him laborious and hope to have him accessible.”

Williams suffered the damage in the course of the first quarter of the Pac-12 championship recreation on Friday. After breaking off a 59-yard run, Williams “popped” his hamstring, Riley stated. The 20-year-old remained within the recreation however was visibly restricted within the 47-24 loss to Utah.

“He is a warrior,” Riley stated. “He fought via it the opposite night time when a variety of guys would not.”

Riley stated that if USC had been taking part in inside the subsequent two weeks, Williams — who completed the common season with over 4,000 passing yards and 37 touchdowns — wouldn’t be accessible. However the prolonged break might permit the sophomore to be wholesome sufficient to play within the bowl recreation.

If Williams cannot play, the Trojans will flip to backup Miller Moss. The freshman appeared in three video games this season, finishing 12 of 14 move makes an attempt for 159 yards and one landing.