USC Trojans legend Reggie Bush advises that Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams will need to turn the … [+]
It’s safe to say that Reggie Bush thinks very highly of fellow USC Trojans alum Caleb Williams as he begins his NFL career.
The No. 1 overall pick in the draft and the fellow former Heisman Trophy winner will enter the season as the Chicago Bears’ starting quarterback. And with that draft billing obviously comes high expectations as Williams is supposed to be the NFL’s next great quarterback.
Bush – who also entered the NFL with high expectations as the No. 2 overall pick in 2006 and the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner – spoke of his relationship with Williams and his thoughts on the highly touted quarterback as he enters his rookie season.
“I’ve spoken to Caleb multiple times and I’m really excited for him because he’s bringing something to the game,” said Bush in an exclusive one-on-one interview. “He’s bringing excitement to the game. Love the way he plays the game. I was obviously a huge fan when he came to USC and it’s insane what him and Lincoln Riley did together. It was really fun to watch and really fun to see.”
The former college football analyst also singled out another important trait that he noticed in Williams – he’s a warrior.
“He’s a true warrior,” says Bush of Williams. “He truly battled every time he stepped out on that field. And you can see, he just gave everything he had.”
The USC legend himself lived up to expectations when he quickly emerged as a versatile threat for the New Orleans Saints after being selected with one of the top picks in the 2006 NFL Draft. He caught 88 passes during his rookie season while starting at running back in addition to holding punt return duties. He didn’t take long before Bush posted a First-team All-Pro season (2008) after leading the NFL with three punt returns for touchdowns. He won a Super Bowl during his fourth season while playing a key role in rushing, receiving and returning.
Although both USC alums had distinguished careers in college, the expectations are ramped up just a tad bit more for Williams considering he’s a quarterback and the No. 1 overall pick in a draft class that featured six quarterbacks selected in the top 12 picks -– a first in NFL history. Bush, who dealt with tons of media pressure entering the NFL as one of the most accomplished college football players in history, gave some notable advice to his fellow USC brethren as he prepares to carve out his own NFL legacy.
“Obviously, winning the Heisman Trophy was icing on the cake,” says Bush. “But now going to the NFL, he’s going to have to quickly forget about all that and he’s going to have to focus on this new chapter in his life. Because it doesn’t get easier — it gets harder. And those windows close a lot faster in the NFL.”
Bush outlines the specific traits that Williams will have to focus on to excel at quarterback as enters Year 1 in the NFL.
“Timing is going to be extremely important,” says Bush. “His footwork is going to be extremely important. He’s going to have to protect the football. That’s always number one as a quarterback, protecting the football. But also making plays as well. And those are things that he does well.”
As Bush notes, Williams’ “growth” from the time that he was at Oklahoma to his final year in USC is something that stood out to him. He once again stresses that Williams has to “turn the page extremely fast” from his collegiate career.
“He’s going to have to quickly forget about all those accomplishments in college and he’s going to have to turn the chapter — turn that page extremely fast,” suggests Bush. “This is a blank canvas for him.”
The 22-year-old quarterback – who has been compared to four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers – enters a favorable situation from a talent standpoint, with the likes of veteran receivers Keenan Allen and DJ Moore along with fellow first-round pick, wide receiver Rome Odunze. That’s not even mentioning reigning Pro Bowl running back D’Andre Swift and tight end Cole Kmet, who is coming off of a 73-catch season.
However, Bush does point out that Williams is playing in one of the toughest divisions in football in the NFC North. The Detroit Lions are the reigning division champions and advanced to the NFC Championship Game last season. Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers came within a possession of upsetting the San Francisco 49ers and advancing to the NFC Title game.
One of Williams’ traits that will serve him well is his ability to keep his eyes down the field while scrambling. Bush singles out this trait as Williams’ best and even goes so far as to predict that he’ll one day be considered among the best quarterbacks in the game who excel at not only keeping their eyes down the field, but also extend plays with their legs. That means quarterbacks such as two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes.
“That’s what makes Patrick Mahomes so great,” says Bush. “That’s what makes Josh Allen so great — and Lamar Jackson. These are the type of players I believe Caleb Williams is going to be considered — at the top of his game — amongst those guys.”