15 Greatest QB/WR Duos of All Time

2003: USC

Matt Leinart and Mike Williams

In 2003, before the great Reggie Bush breakout, Matt Leinart and Mike Williams were both sophomores.

A stout lefty with ease and confidence under pressure, Leinart completed 255 passes for 3,556 yards and 38 touchdowns, winning Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year. He led the conference in pass completion percentage (63.4), passing yards per attempt (8.8), passing touchdowns, and passing efficiency rating (164.5).

Mike Williams was too strong for any one defender to cover. Often, he was too strong for any two defenders. The problem was, defenses needed three or more men to cover him.

In ’03, Williams caught 95 passes for 1,314 yards and 16 touchdowns, averaging 13.8 yards per reception. He was a Consensus All-American, leading the Pac-10 in receptions and receiving touchdowns.

Williams finished eight in the Heisman voting, and Leinart finished sixth in the Heisman voting, an award he would win the following season.

After bulldozing Auburn in Week 1, the Trojans had only one hiccup all season, which came against another sophomore quarterback named Aaron Rodgers and the Cal Bears, a game the Trojans lost 34-31. After that it was smooth sailing.

Facing Lloyd Carr’s Wolverines in the Rose Bowl proved to be no problem for the Trojans. Leinart made quick work of the Michigan secondary, throwing for four touchdowns, one of them to Williams from 15 yards out.

By the end of the game, not only had USC won, but Leinart had also taken home the MVP.

Coach Pete Carroll knew how much Leinart and Williams meant to USC’s success in 2003. The Trojans would go 12-1, winning the Rose Bowl, 28-13, and finishing #1 in the AP.