USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams gets a lot of attention for his on-field play. That’s usually how it goes when you win a Heisman Trophy and remain a frontrunner to win another. It also doesn’t hurt that he plays for one of the best college football teams in the nation, with USC still sitting perfect at 6-0.
Sure, much of that success can be attributed to Williams, the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Yet, in addition to the hype surrounding the USC QB’s play on the field, he’s also drawn some attention for something that has nothing to do with how he performs on the football field.
We’re talking about Williams painting his fingernails before meaningful matchups. But why?
Related: Updated Heisman Watch: Can Caleb Williams win back-to-back Heisman Trophies?
Why does Caleb Williams paint his fingernails?
At this point, chances are you’ve seen the hands of Williams either before or after he flicks a pass downfield. It’s not hard to notice the fact that the Trojans QB has painted fingernails. We used to see baseball catchers paint their nails to help their pitchers see which or how many fingers they’d hold up behind the plate to help determine pitch type and location. The introduction of PitchComs has reduced the need to highlight a player’s fingernails in baseball.
But Williams doesn’t play catcher. He has no need to have brightly-colored nails that help give his teammates a competitive advantage.
So why does Williams paint his fingernails before playing in a football game?
The USC QB has been open about his reasoning in the past, detailing why in an appearance on Good Morning America in 2022.
“My mom was my inspiration. I mean, she’s been doing nails since I could remember. And she’s always done it. I think since she was probably like 14, she’s always done it. So, that was a little time before I was born. And so ever since I was born, she’s been doing it.
Caleb Williams on why he paints his nails
Williams even likes to include ‘messages’ on his nails, such as when he had ‘F— ND’ inscribed on his fingers the last time he faced Notre Dame. Will we see a similar story on Saturday when USC heads to South Bend for a rematch?
USC has to hope it doesn’t end up like the time Williams pasted ‘F— Utah’ on his fingers when the Utes destroyed the Trojans 47-22 to take home the Pac-12 Championship last season.
If Williams does have another message for Notre Dame, he better hope the outcome remains the same as the last time they faced off, when USC took care of business with a 38-27 victory over the Fighting Irish in 2022.
Related: See where Caleb Williams lands in Sportsnaut’s college football QB rankings