With the 2024 NFL Draft just over two weeks away, there is a general consensus that Caleb Williams will go No. 1 to the Chicago Bears.
However, that doesn’t mean the top quarterback prospect doesn’t have his critics who are skeptical about him in the NFL. One of those guys is former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy, who shared that he is concerned about Williams at the next level because he doesn’t think the former USC quarterback faced adversity in college.
On Tuesday afternoon, Williams took the time to debunk this take on social media.
Caleb Williams Responds to Claims of Never Facing Adversity
The issue with Williams, according to McElroy, is that he hasn’t really had to face any adversity in his career.
So @GregMcElroy likes Caleb Williams. He has one concern: “Caleb Williams has never experienced adversity…I do wonder, is there a sense of entitlement, is there the chip on the shoulder that’s going to keep him going 10-12 years down the road the way it does Mahomes.” pic.twitter.com/nJxGI99AIY
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) April 9, 2024
“Caleb Williams, from the time he stepped on campus at Oklahoma to the time he stepped on campus at [U]SC, he has never experienced adversity,” McElroy said. “Very little adversity as far as how he was perceived and how he was portrayed as the next best guy … I do wonder about, is there a sense of entitlement? Is there that chip on the shoulder that’s going to keep him going 10-12 years down the road the way it does [Patrick] Mahomes?”
It didn’t take long for Williams to see this on social media and give it a response of his own.
Let’s go back to school again 😂🤦🏽♂️cause I’m bored rn..
Adversity:
“A state or instance of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune.”Y1. Didn’t start freshman year.
Y2. Popped hammy championship game 1st Q. Lost bc of my hammy.
Y3. 7-5 my last year of college ball. https://t.co/360cZjUGzD— Caleb Williams (@CALEBcsw) April 9, 2024
In his response, Williams brought up multiple different situations where he had to face adversity in his college career. When he showed up at Oklahoma, he wasn’t immediately named the starter. He began his freshman year as the backup quarterback to Spencer Rattler before taking over midway through the season.
He also mentioned how he had to deal with injury issues during his career and that the Trojans went just 7-5 when he played this year after the hype coming off his 2022 Heisman Trophy campaign.
KEEP READING: 2024 NFL Draft Quarterback Tiers — How the NFL Views the Upcoming Class
We are seemingly at the point in the draft when everybody begins to find things to talk about when it comes to the prospects. Last year, we saw it when Brady Quinn started to say there were some red flags about C.J. Stroud right before the 2023 NFL Draft. This year, there have been some rumblings about wide receiver Malik Nabers being “high maintenance.”
One thing is for sure — all indications seem to be the Bears aren’t worried about that perceived lack of adversity for Williams. If they are, you can bet the Washington Commanders will be there to step right in and take him.
Miss football? The 2024 NFL Draft is almost here, boss. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s all-new Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls — lone wolf or with your friends!
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