Former Oklahoma receiver Mario Williams announced Saturday that he is transferring to USC, where he will reunite with ex-Sooners coach Lincoln Riley. Williams caught 35 passes for 380 yards and four touchdowns as a true freshman with the Sooners in the 2021 season, and was ranked the No. 8 overall transfer in this cycle by 247Sports.
Williams was considered the No. 4 receiver in the 2021 recruiting class by the 247Sports Composite. The former four-star prospect from Plant City, Florida, should be of immediate assistance for the Trojans as Riley seeks to rebuild the program into a national contender. USC's 2022 recruiting class is ranked just 58th nationally in the 247Sports team rankings, but Riley is likely far from done working the transfer portal.
Former Washington receiver Terrell Bynum is also transferring in to USC after catching 65 passes for 934 yards and six touchdowns during 20 games over three seasons with the Huskies. Additionally, top-100 wide receiver prospect C.J. Williams is among USC's 2022 signees.
The high-end trio of newcomers at the position should help the Trojans replenish the lost production of leading receiver Drake London, who is departing for the NFL. Second and third-leading receivers Tahj Washington and Gary Bryant Jr. appear poised to return from the 2021 roster for Riley's first season.
Landing Williams could seemingly only help USC in the sweepstakes for Oklahoma transfer quarterback Caleb Williams. Caleb Williams and Mario Williams were two of the highest-rated commitments in Oklahoma's 2021 recruiting class and showed promising chemistry as a quarterback-receiver duo last season. Caleb Williams announced his decision to enter the transfer portal earlier this month.
