Williams takes Norman by storm

NORMAN, Okla. - Caleb Williams is always looking to connect with people.

The freshman quarterback has taken Norman by storm ever since he replaced Spencer Rattler during Oklahoma's comeback win over Texas on Oct. 9.

Williams is the Sooners' biggest weapon on the field, but he's equipped with an off-the-field ability that's equally impressive.

"(Williams) can have a conversation with anybody," OU head coach Lincoln Riley said. "He can have a conversation with my 5-year-old. He can have a conversation with anybody on our team. He can have a conversation with an adult and interact and be very personable. So he's got a unique ability to connect with different kinds of people."

The only people who have struggled to connect with Williams are those in the media.

Riley, a Muleshoe native, is known for not making freshmen players available for interviews. The policy has been in place for all five of his seasons as head coach, and it has applied to former standouts including Trey Sermon and Kenneth Murray.

"It's not a power thing, and it's not an ego thing," Riley said. "It comes from two areas: these guys are young, and we're building them up and teaching them. And then the other thing we've always had in our program is that you have to earn those. A lot of guys have rolled through here that were good freshmen players.

"There's a lot of things built on earning the trust, earning the respect and earning the opportunity to do things like that."

Williams isn't exempt from Riley's policy.

Despite emerging as one of the most electric players in college football and a Heisman Trophy candidate, the breakout quarterback hasn't been made available to the media at any point this season.

"It's been our rule," Riley said. "I've just never been one to change much right in the middle of it."

The demand for Williams' voice to be heard should only grow as he continues to dazzle on the field.

The young gunslinger already boasts three Big 12 Conference Player of the Week awards, and he earned the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award last week after lighting up Texas Tech for 402 yards and six passing touchdowns.

The only freshman Riley made an exception for in the past was CeeDee Lamb, who racked up 807 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in his first season with the Sooners.

Williams is reaching that star stratosphere, and Riley hasn't dismissed the possibility of making Williams available to the media at some point this season as a result.

"We'll see how it evolves," Riley said. "If I ever get to the point where I think there's a benefit, then I would have no problem doing it. I can't just do it because people want to talk to him. I understand that everybody does. I understand that it's their job, too.

"The first description of my job is to do what's best for the team and the individuals within it."