If he would have left last year after his junior year, USC
QB Matt Barkley would have been one of the top quarterbacks taken in the 2012
NFL Draft. But he didn’t. Barkley came back for his senior year in hopes of
winning a national championship and perhaps a Heisman Trophy.
USC
struggled all year long as the preseason #2 team in the nation and went 7-6
including an embarrassing lost in the Sun Bowl. Barkley didn’t have as good of
season as he had in 2011 and got injured in USC’s season finale against UCLA. Now
the quarterback who many thought would have been maybe #1 overall last year,
may not even get drafted in the first round this year?
Barkley
came out this week and said that he would not be throwing in the NFL combine
this weekend instead focusing on the USC’s pro day on March 27th
because his right shoulder still isn’t 100%. Some scouts now wonder if Barkley
will return to the form in his junior year where he led USC to a 10-2 record.
Barkley
threw for 3,528 yards with 39 touchdowns to 7 Ints in his junior year. This
year, his numbers dropped as he threw for 3,273 yards and 36 touchdowns but 15
Ints. Barkley left USC as one of the most decorated quarterbacks in school
history including the 8th most touchdowns in NCAA history and most
completions, attempts, and yards in PAC-12 history. Barkley only won one bowl
game in his four years as USC was on probation for two years after dealing with
the aftermath of the Reggie Bush situation. But Barkley was a proven leader, as
he became the first Trojan to ever be named captain as a freshman in 2009. He
not only dealt with the two-year probation but also with a coaching change as
Pete Carroll left for the NFL after his freshman year and hired Lane Kiffin.
Do I think
that Barkley will be a good NFL quarterback? Yes. I am not saying that only
because I saw Barkley play at USC for four years as I am a USC season ticket
holder, but Barkley has the intangibles that will make him a good NFL
quarterback. He has a great arm but it will interesting to see how it looks at
USC’s pro day? Barkley always was accurate when he threw the ball deep but has
had issues with overthrowing his receivers in the short to mid gain. He is not
a mobile quarterback but is good at throwing the ball on the run. A big problem
that Barkley will have to fit is his decision making as three of his four years
he had double digit Ints. He also has the advantage as he played in a pro system
for four years. He also has ideal size at 6’3”.
This year’s
quarterback class is not deep at all as the #1 quarterback prospect is between
Barkley and West Virginia’s Geno Smith. I
think Barkley would be a perfect fit to the Arizona Cardinals at the #7 pick.
Cardinals have weapons at the receiver position with Larry Fitzgerald, Andre
Roberts, and Michael Floyd. Barkley will not be a hall of fame quarterback but
he will have a good NFL career.
Now we
all sit and wait as March 27th will be a big day for Barkley’s
career.
image was used from bleacherreport.com
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