Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Caleb Williams still atop college PFF rankings
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It wasn’t the first half anybody wanted for No. 4 Oklahoma against Kansas. OU was shut out in the first half by the Jayhawks for the first time in the Lincoln Riley era and since the 2014 season.
The Sooners’ freshman star quarterback Caleb Williams shook off his first-half interception and found another gear after halftime. His play spearheaded Oklahoma erasing a 10-0 halftime deficit and outscoring Kansas in the second half, 35-13.
As a result, Williams remains the highest-graded college quarterback per Pro Football Focus, with an offensive grade of 93.9 and the second-highest graded player nationally. He sits just behind only Coastal Carolina tight end Isaiah Likely.
Williams is just ahead of Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett, Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud and Liberty quarterback Malik Willis and their identical offensive grades of 92.6.
Here’s what PFF analyst Seth Galina had to say about Williams’ play for the Sooners.
The comeback king Williams continues to lead the way for Power Five quarterbacks after another thrilling win as the Sooners’ starting quarterback. Williams converted two fourth-down tries in the fourth quarter on the ground, with the latter being a wild “double handoff” play where he instinctively took the ball from running back Kennedy Brooks, who was in the midst of being stopped short of the sticks. – Galina, Pro Football Focus
Williams once again dazzled on a pair of fourth-down snaps. First, with just north of eight minutes remaining, Williams took a fourth and 3 snap and evaded three Jayhawks defenders behind the line of scrimmage before racing 40 yards into the end zone to put the Sooners in front 28-17.
Kansas safety Kenny Logan Jr. had the first crack at bringing down Williams before the Sooner signal-caller split would-be Jayhawks tacklers in cornerback Duece Mayberry and linebacker Rich Miller.
Then, on the Sooners’ final drive, OU running back Kennedy Brooks looked as if he was about to be stopped short and driven back on a fourth and 1 snap with OU clinging to a 28-23 lead over Kansas. Williams had other ideas.
He took the football away from Brooks, ran five yards to pick up the first down and ensured Oklahoma would walk out of Lawrence, Kan., a winner and 8-0.
Williams finished his day against Kansas 15-of-20 passing for 178 yards with two touchdowns against the one interception. His two touchdown passes went to redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jadon Haselwood and redshirt senior H-back Jeremiah Hall.
Williams also carried it eight times for 70 rushing yards. His next chance to impress will come on Saturday when Oklahoma hosts Texas Tech at 2:30 p.m. from Norman on ABC.
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5 takeaways from the Oklahoma Sooners' 35-23 win over the Kansas Jayhawks
