Week 0: Caleb Williams, Southern Cal

University of Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams, who last season became the first player ever from the Washington area to win the Heisman Trophy, is the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Player of the Week after leading the sixth-ranked Trojans to a season-opening 56-28 win over San Jose State this past Saturday.

Williams, a junior who starred at Gonzaga College High School in Northwest Washington, completed 18 of 25 passes for 278 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. It was a strong start to the season for Williams, who last season passed for 42 touchdowns with just five interceptions.

Williams’ 76-yard touchdown pass to Tahj Washington in the second quarter was the longest of his college career. He threw touchdown passes to four different receivers, but afterwards clearly felt there is plenty of room for improvement.

“Whether it’s me pushing the guys, whether it’s tempo in practice, whether it’s getting more reps in the film room, whatever the case may be,” Williams said. “I think it all comes from leading in consistency, because I’d say we were a bit inconsistent tonight. Especially in the first half, a key sense of frustration was inconsistency, I would say, whether it was dropped balls, whether it was me fumbling snaps, whether it was the offensive line missing the defensive line read cues and things like that. Whatever it leads into, I’d say just consistency is the most important part.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week Honor Roll is:

• Albany QB Reese Poffenbarger (Middletown) completed 23 of 40 passes for 253 yards and four touchdowns and rushed eight times for 47 yards as the Great Danes beat Fordham, 34-13.