Projected 2024 top pick Caleb Williams on the fence about entering the draft

USC quarterback Caleb Williams, the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has 47 days to decide whether he wants to head to the NFL or return to school for one more season.

Despite being the consensus top pick in nearly every mock draft from seemingly every top draft guru, Williams recently told the Los Angeles Times that he still hasn’t decided what he wants to do next season, calling the situation “a game-time decision.”

“It’s been one of the most important years I think I’ve had,” Williams said. “It’s tricky. I’ve had to have talks with Lincoln [Riley] because, obviously, I haven’t been through it…just how to deal with this and lead, how to stay the same person I was before the season or after our first loss or second loss.”

This year is the first Williams has had to deal with much adversity as a starting QB. He went 6-2 during his freshman year at Oklahoma after taking over for Spencer Rattler and he led USC to an 11-3 record and Cotton Bowl appearance last season en route to winning the Heisman Trophy.

But this season, the Trojans finished 7-5 and out of the College Football Playoff race, and Williams finished with 904 fewer passing yards and 12 fewer touchdowns that he did a season ago when he was labeled a generational quarterback prospect.

“This was one of my most important years of playing football so far,” Williams added. “I’ve never been in this situation, where I’m 7-5 and there are no playoff hopes at the end of the season. I’m dealing with it emotionally, dealing with it spiritually and physically.”

Because of his struggles, there are some draft analysts and media pundits who don't even believe Williams is the best quarterback in the 2024 class.