USC Football: Whether He Stays or Goes, Leonard Williams Has Made His Mark

All-American defensive lineman Leonard Williams isn't ready to declare himself eligible for this spring's NFL draft, but the USC star is not announcing a return for his senior season in 2015. 

Following the No. 24-ranked Trojans' dominating win over Notre Dame to cap the regular season on Nov. 29, Williams said he needed time to weigh all factors before making his decision. 

Nothing has changed in the days since, though popular opinion is that one of the most remarkable defensive players in recent Pac-12 history is headed for the pros. 

If he stays or goes, Williams has already left an indelible mark on USC football. 

He garnered Most Valuable Player honors for 2014 at Wednesday's team banquet, per USCTrojans.com—just one more honor to add to the growing list of accomplishments. 

The lineman's junior campaign—and perhaps collegiate career—concludes Dec. 27 when the Trojans face Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl. 

If that Saturday night in San Diego is indeed the last time Williams wears USC cardinal and gold, it's fitting. He would then go out in the same game that launched 2009 Heisman Trophy finalist and one of the premier defensive linemen in recent memory—and a Nebraska Cornhusker coincidentally—Ndamukong Suh.  

Indeed, Williams' tenure at USC can be favorably compared to the careers of predecessors like Suh, Pittsburgh's Aaron Donald, Washington's Steve Emtman—some of the best defensive linemen the college game has had to offer in the last two decades. 

Season	Tackles	Tackles for Loss	INT	Sacks	Forced Fumbles	Passes Broken Up
2014	71	8.5	1	6	3	4
2013	73	12.5	-	5	1	-
2012	64	13.5	1	8	-	3

In certain ways, Williams stands out from the past elite at his position. 

Williams is a new breed of defensive lineman. With his 6'5" frame, Williams looks like he would be as comfortable playing on the low post for USC basketball coach Andy Enfield as he is on the line for coordinator Justin Wilcox. 

Williams certainly has the versatility for it—he played both on the interior and at end throughout his USC career, excelling both as a pass-rusher and run-stopper. 

And perhaps most impressive is that he did so battling injury for much of the last two seasons. 

Head coach Steve Sarkisian had to limit Williams' participation in practices for stretches of the 2014 campaign, the result of a shoulder injury that required surgery last offseason and an early-season ankle injury.

The ankle flared up in the Trojans' Week 2 win at Stanford. All Williams did that afternoon was make 11 tackles and sack Cardinal quarterback Kevin Hogan. 

"Quite honestly, an amazing performance," Sarkisian said. "Never mind having an injured ankle, for a defensive lineman to have 11 tackles and a sack is a great accomplishment." 

It's no wonder, then, that the NFL is high on Williams. 

B/R NFL Draft Lead Writer Matt Miller ranks Williams No. 5 on his most recent big board. CBSSports.com pegs him No. 2 overall. 

Thus, the choice may be an easy one. Moreover, Williams has little left to prove individually.

Perhaps the Heisman is an attainable goal, but when I asked him about the award earlier this season, he shrugged: "Well, I'm a defensive tackle," alluding to the difficulty defensive players have competing for the quarterback-dominated award.   

But as a member of a team? That's another story. 

Dean Hare/Associated Press

"All these what-ifs," Williams said in summary of the 2014 season. 

One more win in Pac-12 play would have sent Williams and the rest of the Trojans to the conference championship game for the first time since its inception in 2011. And given USC lost two league games in the final minute, it's evident the program is on the brink. 

"We have potential," he said. "Now that we have scholarships again, USC is going to be back to dominance.”

Williams may not be around when that happens, but his name will certainly linger around the program for years to come.  

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Statistics courtesy of CFBstats.com.