Caleb Williams feels like he can see things better in his second year of college ball.

Which is to say the freshman phenom looking for a sophomore surge is progressing exactly how you hope for a young quarterback.

The USC starter met with members of the media Wednesday after practice to talk about how he’s grown as a quarterback and as a player in coach Lincoln Riley’s system. The coach and quarterback have a special connection, one that allows them to communicate even non-verbally on the fly.

“I want to be sort of like Coach Riley Pt. 2 on the field because he can’t be out there,” Williams said. “He has to be outside the white line. So that’s what I’m reaching for.

“He has a lot more trust. He gives me a lot more flexibility. Sometimes I even look over and he’s giving me the go-ahead. … Me and my teammates, we’re laughing about it. We kind of communicate really fast when I’m on the field and he’s on the sideline, just thinking through plays like that. And sometimes I’ll call a play, he likes it, he’ll give me the shoulders, which means go ahead, or give me a thumbs up, which means go ahead. So it’s a lot more trust and a lot more flexibility.”

Williams threw for 1,912 yards and 21 touchdowns in seven starts, taking over for Spencer Rattler during the Texas game. He also added 435 rushing yards and another six scores on the ground.

Expectations are high for Year 2, with Williams entering the season as a favorite to land in New York City as a Heisman Trophy finalist at the end of the year.

He and the 14th-ranked Trojans get things rolling against Rice on Sept. 3 at home at 3 p.m. PT.