HBCU Football: Why Caleb Williams should consider Grambling State

With Caleb Williams narrowing down where he will transfer, Grambling State football should be on that list if coaching and development are paramount.

Caleb Williams’ father, Carl, made no bones about what he wanted for his son. The Williams’ camp has planned to get the Washington D.C. native to his second NIL contract. That includes going somewhere to be a Heisman candidate and the first pick in the draft.

That means the Williams family wants to go somewhere Caleb can be coached and his raw abilities refined into a top NFL prospect. Please make no mistake: the younger Williams has the goods for the modern NFL.

Williams has been linked to former head coach Lincoln Riley and the USC program. Williams has now been linked to Wisconsin in a move reminiscent of Russell Wilson’s transfer.

If Williams wants development and coaching, he should consider Grambling State.

Hue Jackson made a name for himself as an offensive and quarterbacks coach

Don’t dismiss coach Jackson because of his 11-44 record as an NFL head coach. Keep in mind that Jackson coached two of the most dysfunctional franchises when he coached them in the Raiders and Browns. Jackson remained one of the most respected offensive minds in football, even with the two failed stops.

Williams’s decision is about quarterback development, and Jackson is as good as anyone in the country. Carson Palmer was one of Jackson’s first pupils and most successful. Jackson recruited Palmer to USC, and some of his best seasons as a pro were under Jackson’s tutelage.

Former Baltimore Raven Joe Flacco owes much of his success to Jackson. Flacco became the first rookie to win two playoff games, leading the Ravens to the AFC Championship.

Caleb Williams’ NIL drawing power is considerable where ever he is

There is no counterargument here other than “it’s Grambling State.” Name, image, and likeness endorsements for a player like Caleb Williams, who has spent a lot of time in the news cycle, won’t be an issue.

Williams has national brand star power and can get NIL money anywhere he plays. Williams would have the opportunity to be as crucial to Grambling State as another Williams who played there in Doug Williams.

What about the NFL?

Williams would be the first HBCU quarterback since the late Tavaris Jackson went in the second round to the Minnesota Vikings. The truth is, if you can ball, the NFL does not care where you play.

Small school players have gone early in the draft. The aforementioned Flacco was a first-round pick out of Delaware. Former Houston Texans’ first overall pick, David Carr, went to Fresno State. The late Steve McNair was the third overall pick out of Alcorn State and was a Heisman finalist.

All Williams needs to do is ball out at Grambling, and the NFL will come looking for him. Most teams want prospects to test well, and Williams should do just that.

It is likely Williams goes to a big named school, but he’d get second to none coaching at Grambling, and that’s why they are worth considering.