Press release:
LOS ANGELES—Eleven Trojan football players earned All-Pac-12 Conference honors, the Conference announced today (Dec. 5).
Safety
Calen Bullock earned First Team honors, as did
Zachariah Branch as a return specialist.
Wide receiver
Brenden Rice was selected to the Second Team.
USC's All-Pac-12 honorable mention choices were: defensive lineman
Bear Alexander, all purpose/special teams player
Zachariah Branch, RUSH
Solomon Byrd, offensive lineman
Justin Dedich, running back
MarShawn Lloyd, tight end
Lake McRee, offensive lineman
Jonah Monheim, wide receiver
Tahj Washington and quarterback
Caleb Williams.
Bullock, a junior and 2022 First Team All-American, finished the regular season with 61 tackles, 7 PBUs and 2 INTs, including one returned 30 yards for a TD against Utah. He also earned placement on the AP Midseason All-America Second Team.
Branch, a freshman superstar, recorded 29 receptions for 311 yards and 2 TDs.
He is also one of the nation's most electric returners. Against Stanford on Sept. 9, he returned a punt for a 75-yard TD in the second quarter. He had a 96-yard kickoff return for a TD vs. San Jose State on Aug. 26. He is the first Trojan since Adoree' Jackson in 2016 to have a punt return and kickoff return for a TD, as well as at least one receiving TD in the same season. Jackson had 2 punt returns and 2 kickoff returns for TDs and 1 TD reception during the 2016 season.
Since 1971 (when records are available) Branch is one of just 3 USC players to accomplish the feat, joining Jackson and Curtis Conway (1992 – 1 kickoff return TD, 1 punt return TD, 5 rec TDs). Branch also had 4 receptions for 30 yards and 1 carry for 2 rushing yards against Stanford. He also has a rushing TD this season (against Utah).
Branch finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the nation in punt returns (20.6), No. 2 in the nation in combined kick returns (751) and punt return TDs (1) and No. 6 in the nation in kickoff return TDs (1). In 2023, he recorded 42 kick returns for 442 yards and 1 TD, and 15 punt returns for 309 yards and 1 TD.
Branch is a semifinalist for the Jet Award and was a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year. The was named to the Sporting News Midseason All-America Team and the ESPN Midseason All-America Team as a returner.
Rice had a breakout season leading the Trojans with 12 TDs. He collected 45 receptions for 791 yards and finished the regular season ranked No. 7 in the nation in receiving TDs.
Once Alexander arrived at Troy, he immediately made an impact on the defensive line. He was a disruptive force at nose tackle, putting pressure on offenses all season and allowing his teammates to make plays in the backfield. He rounded out the regular season with 43 tackles, with 5.5 for loss of 29 yards (including 1.9 sacks for minus 19 yards). He also tallied 4 QBHs and 4 PBUs.
Byrd had a productive second season at USC. He recorded 45 tackles, with a team-leading 11 for loss of 48 yards (including 6 sacks for minus 36 yards), 4 forced fumbles, 2 QBHs and 1 PBU.
Dedich, leading the way at center, and Monheim at left tackle, were crucial to the success of QB
Caleb Williams. USC finished the regular season ranked No. 4 in scoring offense (41.8), No. 5 nationally in passing offense (329.8) and No. 8 in team passing efficiency (167.22). Per PFF, the USC offense earned a No. 18 in overall offense with a 85.6 grade.
Lloyd, a transfer from South Carolina who immediately became a fan-favorite, recorded 820 rushing yards on 116 attempts with 9 TDs. He finished the regular season ranked No. 6 in the nation in rush yards per carry (7.07). Lloyd also recorded 13 receptions for 232 yards. He was named to the Reese's Senior Bowl Midseason All-American Team.
McRee, a steady tight end presence for the Trojans as a blocker and receiver, tallied 26 receptions for 262 yards and 1 TD.
Washington, Williams' favorite target, led the team with 52 receptions for 963 yards and 6 TDs. He also had 1 rushing attempt for 10 yards.
Defending Heisman Trophy winner QB
Caleb Williams led the Trojan offense. Williams finished the regular season ranked No. 4 in the nation in points responsible for (250) and points responsible for per game (20.8), No. 6 in the nation in passing TDs (30) and passing yards (3,633), No. 7 in the nation in passing efficiency (170.1) and passing yards per game (302.8), No. 8 in the nation in total offense (314.6) and No. 10 in the nation in yards per pass attempt (9.36). He is the first FBS player in the last 25 years to throw for 6 passing TDs in a game for multiple schools.
Williams recorded 30 TDs and 5 INTs. He was 266-of-388 (.686) for 3,633 yards. He has also rushed for 121 yards on 99 carries with 11 TDs. Compared to the first 12 games of his Heisman winning season in 2022 (268-of-407 [.658] for 3,712 yards with 34 TDs and 3 INTs and 351 rushing yards with 10 TDs), Williams rushed for 1 more TD and has a higher completion percentage through 12 games than he did in 2022.
In 2022, Williams was instrumental in successfully turning around a program that went 4-8 in the 2021 season to a 11-2 team in 2022. The 7-victory increase from the previous season matches the biggest one-season turnaround in USC history. The other 7-game improvement was when the 1962 National Champion Trojans won 11 games after winning only 4 in the 1961 season.
In addition to winning the Heisman Trophy, he was named the 2022 Walter Camp Player of the Year (joining 5 other Trojans to have been so honored, Simpson in 1967 and 1968, White in 1979, Allen in 1981, Leinart in 2004 and Bush in 2005). He was also named the 2022 AP Player of the Year (joining Leinart in 2004 and Bush in 2005). He won the 2022 Maxwell Award, presented to the best player in college football (joining Simpson in 1968, White in 1979 and Allen in 1981). He was named the 2022 Sporting News College Football Player of the Year (joining Simpson 1968, White, 1979, Allen 1981, Palmer, 2002 and Bush 2005). He was also named the 2022 CBS Sports Player of the Year, the Action Sports Player of the Year, the CFPA National Performer of the Year and the DC Touchdown Club Player of the Year. He was a Unanimous All-American being selected to the First Team for AP, Football Coaches, Football Writers, Walter Camp and Sporting News. He was selected as the 2022 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year and was named to the 2022 All-Pac-12 First Team, the AP All-Pac-12 First Team and the Phil Steele All-Pac-12 First Team. Overall in 2022, he completed 333-of-500 passes (66.7%) for 4,537 yards and 42 TDs with just 5 INTs, plus he rushed for 382 yards and 10 TDs. He was first nationally in passing TDs (42, first in Pac-12) and points responsible for per game (22.3, first in Pac-12). He was third nationally in passing yards (4,537) and fourth nationally in passing yards per game (324.1). He was fifth nationally in passing efficiency (168.5, first in Pac-12) and total offense (351.4). He was seventh nationally in yards per pass attempt (9.07, first in Pac-12).
Williams is No. 6 on USC's career passing leader list with 599 completions. No. 5 on USC's career total offense leader list (8,694 yards).
From the 2022 season, Williams holds the USC single-season record for total offense (4,919 yards), most touchdowns scored rushing and passing (52), passing completions (333), passes attempted (500), most passing yards gained (4,537), most touchdown passes thrown (42), most rushing and passing plays (613), lowest rate of interceptions (1%, 5 in 500 attempts) and highest passing efficiency rating (168.5). He is tied for the USC single-season record for most consecutive 5-touchdown pass games with 2 (tied with Sam Darnold in 2016 and Kedon Slovis in 2020). He holds the USC single-game record for most yards running and passing (503 vs. UCLA in 2022). His 382 rushing yards in 2022 were the most by a Trojan quarterback in the last 70 years when complete records were first available.
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