USC QB Caleb Williams explains why he gets fingernails painted

USC Trojans star quarterback Caleb Williams became a target of online trolls earlier this spring when he sported painted fingernails at a basketball game. 

Williams spoke with Armando Salguero of Outkick and other reporters at a pre-draft event on Wednesday and addressed what’s become somewhat of a controversial topic. 

“It’s one thing where you go to a nail salon, and it’s peaceful,” Williams explained. “It’s something not many people are doing. I just sit down and throw on my [headphones]. I turn on a movie, I sit down and I’m chillin’, not bothered by anything other than what I decide to be bothered by.” 

Dan Pompei of The Athletic mentioned last week that Williams had “been criticized for painting his fingernails and crying in his mother’s arms in the stands after USC lost to Washington.” More recently, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic revealed this week that an unnamed scout worried that Williams “leans into this identity/persona of just being a little bit weird and different, and that detracts from his ability to relate to his teammates and just be about the team and work on winning.” 

It is worth noting that a handful of analysts, scouts and coaches believe Jayden Daniels of the LSU Tigers – and not Williams – will be the best quarterback selected during this year’s draft for reasons related strictly to on-the-field performances. Williams insisted on Wednesday he is “comfortable” with who he is regardless of what others think of his personality.

“I know who and what I am and who I like and what I like and how I go about that,” Williams added during his Wednesday comments. “When I look into the mirror, I know who I am. And so that’s the simplest answer I can give you for that. That’s kind of how I go about it.”

While the Chicago Bears hadn’t confirmed as of late Wednesday afternoon that they will make Williams the first pick of the draft, Chicago general manager Ryan Poles spoke with reporters on Tuesday and dismissed any “Hollywood” concerns attached to the signal-caller’s reputation. Heading into Wednesday evening, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Williams as a -20000 betting favorite to be the draft’s first choice on Thursday.