USC star quarterback Caleb Williams was a popular person to talk to while attending Pac-12 media day in Vegas last Friday. Many topics were touched on by the returning Heisman Trophy award winner. However, once again in the name, image, and likeness (NIL) space, it was how he benefited financially that took center stage.
Actually, according to Williams in his words, it profoundly changed his life.
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“It changed my life, to say the least, for sure,” Williams said while at Pac-12 media day.
“I was in college for the first year and … I didn’t do anything with NIL,” Williams added. “So I went a whole year just off stipends and stuff, living the college life. And then, the year after, we started and that was when I got to USC, and I had the brand deals, I had all of that. When I got to USC, it just kind of opened more doors within the brands and stuff like that. I was meeting different people and with that being said, I was able to do certain cool things like giving my teammates, I don’t know, a hundred and some pairs of Beats and the coaches and stuff.”
Before transferring to USC, Williams started at Oklahoma. It was his transfer to USC where the doors opened and Williams took full advantage of the countless NIL opportunities. He has since signed deals with PlayStation, Neutrogena, AT&T, CELSIUS, and Beats by Dre, among others.
“Things like that, just being able to provide for my teammates and care for them and things like that, for maybe the people that are walk-ons or maybe people that aren’t getting NIL deals like that. Being able to help provide, and then also me being able to take care of myself fully and be on my own and be independent and not wave at my parents and say, ‘Hey, I need this.’ I’m able to take care of myself and do all the things that I’ve always wanted to do.”
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The Trojans will enter the 2023 season amid a lot of hype. Last season, Williams passed for 4,537 yards and 42 touchdowns with just five interceptions to go along with a 87.6 QBR rating.
The Trojans will look to make its first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff. Prior to Media Day, the Trojans were predicted to win the conference title.
USC will begin its 2023 campaign when it opens up at home against San Jose State on Aug. 26.
