Barkley’s future hangs in the balance
Posted November 28, 2011 at 11:26 pm in Football, Sports
Logically, junior quarterback Matt Barkley’s pending decision is a no-brainer. Even USC coach Lane Kiffin cannot delude himself with the notion that Barkley has anything left to learn at USC under his tutelage.
“I’m probably not supposed to say this but unless he just wants to do it to be a special Trojan, he ain’t coming back,” Kiffin said. “Who’s playing better than Matt in the country? How do you not draft that kid, knowing the player he is and knowing what the kid is?”
Record setting · USC junior quarterback Matt Barkley threw 39 touchdown passes this season, breaking Matt Leinart’s previous 2003 USC record of 38. - Chris Pham | Daily Trojan
Per NFL rules, NCAA student-athletes can declare for the NFL draft three years after graduating from high school.
As a junior, Barkley meets this minimum condition after posting perhaps the greatest single statistical season of any USC quarterback — without the benefit of a Pac-12 championship rematch against Oregon and an additional bowl game to pad his statistics.
“It’s not a deal where he’s going in the late first [round],” Kiffin said. “He’s every bit ready to go to the NFL.”
Before the season, Kiffin indicated that for Barkley to emerge as an elite quarterback, the junior’s final statistical line should feature 30 or more touchdown passes, fewer than 10 interceptions and a minimum 70 percent completion percentage.
Barkley posted a 39-to-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio while completing 69.1 percent of his passes.
In other words, Barkley shattered Kiffin’s loftiest expectations that were meant mostly to ensure the unquestioned team leader did not become complacent after his successful sophomore campaign.
Entering the season with three new starters on the offensive line and junior Khaled Holmes shifting from guard to center, there was concern as to whether Barkley would have enough time in the pocket to throw before pass rushers bore down on him.
But with his pocket awareness and elusiveness, Barkley was sacked just eight times — a new USC record.
Yet, Barkley, nonetheless, might op to head toward the professional ranks.
“I haven’t given up [on Barkley staying],” Kiffin said. “It’s just going to be a decision … does he want to do something that’s really unique, and he might be the kid to do that. I think 90 percent of kids would not.”
Perhaps the only precedent at USC for an underclassman quarterback as talented and accomplished as Barkley staying for his final year of eligibility is former quarterback Matt Leinart, who stayed for his redshirt senior season in 2005 after winning a BCS National Championship and Heisman Trophy.
Barkley broke Leinart’s single-season school and conference record of 38 passing touchdowns after connecting with sophomore wide receiver Robert Woods for his sixth touchdown during the 50-0 rout of UCLA.
But for all of Leinart’s impressive accolades, Kiffin maintains the comparison between Barkley and Leinart is not all that instructive because Barkley is a better professional prospect than Leinart was at the same stage of their USC careers.
“Whenever people discuss guys staying and losing money, I think you can’t do that,” Kiffin said. “Nobody said Matt Leinart was going in the top-three picks.”
In the summer 2010, Barkley faced the media once news of the sanctions reverberated across the college football landscape, hoping to communicate USC’s intent to persevere. His leadership earned him the distinction of becoming USC’s first sophomore captain. With all he has sacrificed to navigate USC through its draconian sanctions, there is no question that Barkley deserves to make his decision unencumbered by a belief that he owes USC anything.
“I know it sounds weird, but I look up to Matt Barkley,” Kiffin said.
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This article is tagged: heisman, lane kiffin, Matt Barkley, NCAA, nfl draft
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ONCE AGAIN—-MATT YOU NEED TO REALIZE THAT THESE TREMENDOUS AWARDS THAT ARE VERY LIKELY AWAITING YOU–A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE HEISMAN TROPHY–WILL BE LOST FORVER IF YOU DO NOT REMAIN FOR YOUR LAST YEAR. HOW COULD YOU TURN YOUR BACK ON THESE PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS? YOU CANNOT! I KNOW THAT YOUR HEART IS TELLING YOU EXACTLY WHAT I AM SAYING. AS ALWAYS, OUR LOVE FOR YOU IS UNCONDITIONAL, BUT STAY AND YOU WILL LIKELY BECOME THE GREATEST TROJAN OF ALL TIME! THE GREATEST AS A PLAYER AND A HUMAN BEING! FIGHT ON FOR OLD SC!
DEAR MATT: AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE IF YOU DO NOT FINISH OUT YOUR FINAL YEAR YOU WILL REGRET IT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. WE DO NOT WANT YOU TO EXPERIENCE THIS WHICH IS WHY WE ARE ENCOURAGING YOU TO STAY. ALL THE STARS HAVE BEEN ALIGNED IN YOUR FAVOR–NO MORE RESTRICTIONS FOR THE TEAM, A CURRENT AP RANKING OF NUMBER 5 IN THE NATION, A LIKELY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, A VERY PROBABLE HEISMAN TROPHY FOR YOU, MATT KALIL IS STAYING TO BLOCK FOR YOU, AND KNOWING THAT YOU ARE DOI NG THE RIGHT THING AND PLACING SPIRITUAL VALUES AHEAD OF MATERIAL ONES. BY STAYING YOUR FINAL YEAR YOU WILL GAIN THE LOVE AND SUPPORT OF MILLIONS OF FANS THAT WILL ALWAYS HOLD YOU IN THE HIGHEST ESTEEM. YOU HAVE A GREAT CHANCE TO GO DOWN AS THE GREATEST TROJAN OF ALL TIME–LET THIS SINK IN MATT!!! OF ALL TIME!!! OUR LOVE FOR YOU IS UNCONDITIONAL BUT DO THE RIGHT THING AND MAKE US ALL PROUD. FIGHT ON!!
Don’t Kiffin’s comments strike anyone else as a blatant attempt to manipulate Barkley? He has couched Barkley’s decision to go pro as telling the Trojan Nation, “I am NOT a special Trojan, I am NOT the really unique guy you thought I was, I’m the 90% who goes for the money.” Isn’t Barkley a special Trojan and really unique no matter what he decides? Is not Kiffin being childishly transparent?
Think about ALL the deadly offensive Trojan weapons next year and Matt Barkley is the ONLY person with the skills and abilities to steer this great Trojan machine. There is no one else Trojan in 2012 that can fully utilize our blitzkrieg receivers and TE’s to their fullest potential on the field. No one else with play making abilities to make something out of nothing and then even know not to do anything in certain plays.
Bet that ALL PAC 12 coaches want and ‘pray” Matt Barkley will leave for The NFL.
From the time of the crushing unfair sanctions, the departing of Coach Carroll, and loss of many players though the free agent rule, this team and program has been horse whipped and spat on with everyone in it feeling like they’re on ‘damage control” while at the same time scratching for inches to slowly move forward.
Out of that unfair abuse through the great coaching of Lane and Monte Kiffin has risen a scarred and victorious team just now at the brink of complete reassertion.
The undisputed reestablishment of The Trojan Nation in The PAC 12 and nationally is within sight and I beleive a great calling that only Matt Barkley can answer in 2012.
The NFL is not going anywhere. Trust in God for your health and NFL future Matt. College is here and then its not anymore.
With that being said which I am sure is how many Trojan fans feel, whatever you decide should be supported by ALL Trojans for all you have done for this team. I wish the very best for you and whatever you do.
Well said!!
Whether you stay or leave, thank you for everything Matt.
but seriously bro… one more year??? pretty please… =P
I’ll second that. If MB7 stays one more year, I’ll allow a statue of him be placed right next to me.