Caleb Williams makes up for USC defense, but for how long? - ESPN

BOULDER, Colo. — For a brief moment on Saturday at Folsom Field, Caleb Williams found himself in a place he hasn't been much over the course of the past year: on the margins of the spotlight, not in its center.

After winning the Heisman Trophy last December, Williams has become the focal figure of college football, the next great thing, the likely No. 1 overall NFL draft pick. On Saturdays, he's omnipresent, appearing both on the field and likely on your TV too. But as Williams warmed up for the much-anticipated showdown between the Trojans and Deion Sanders' Colorado Buffaloes, the focus, as it has for most of this season, gravitated toward Sanders and the hoopla that surrounds him.

Prime Time's procession out of the tunnel and onto the field for pregame warmups has become its own event, and on Saturday, the walk had its share of star-studded opening acts before he took his customary stroll. Former NBA players Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, rappers Da Baby and Lecrae, DeSean Jackson and CC Sabathia all walked out of the tunnel and on the sidelines, each of their steps echoed by those of photographers, fans, videographers and media. Eventually, Sanders finally emerged and every lens fixated on him as he sent the crowd into a frenzy and the celebrities on hand flocking to him. He was the main event.

Then, the game began, and Williams took the stage.

He had gone to bed earlier than usual the night before, the only tweak he had made to his routine given the 10 a.m. kickoff. Everything else was the same, and so was Williams' customary efficiency and jaw-dropping plays. Over the course of the game, with his dad, Carl, watching from the standing room only press box, Williams scrambled as he does. He took off, threw across his