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LOS ANGELES ? Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley believed he was prepared to play in the NFL and the draft prognosticators agreed with him. He had skillfully guided the program through two years of NCAA ...
Submit this storydigg reddit stumble LOS ANGELES ? Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley believed he was prepared to play in the NFL and the draft prognosticators agreed with him.
He had skillfully guided the program through two years of NCAA sanctions, put up big numbers to add his name to the list of great Trojans quarterbacks.
Setting off a round of cheers at USC's Heritage Hall, Barkley announced Thursday that he's returning for his senior season, putting off the NFL for a chance to lead the Trojans from under the cloud of NCAA sanctions to a BCS bowl.
At 6-foot-2, 220 pounds and with a game that matured over three years at Troy, Barkley was projected as a high first-round pick in the NFL draft, an enticement that had lured his predecessor, Mark Sanchez, after his junior season.
Leinart returned to USC after winning the Heisman Trophy and a national championship, and led the Trojans to the 2005 BCS title game, where they lost to Texas. Luck came back this season after being the Heisman runner-up last year and took the Cardinal to the Fiesta Bowl while finishing second to Baylor's Robert Griffin III in this year's Heisman voting.
Like those two, Barkley felt as though he still had goals he wanted to accomplish after leading the Trojans to a 10-2 record and a No. 5 ranking in The Associated Press poll.
Barkley let USC coach Lane Kiffin know about his decision with a Christmas ornament that had a picture of the two together during this season's game against Colorado on one side and the words "One More Year" on the back. His announcement Thursday in front of about 200 people, including his family and Kiffin, set off a wave of applause and a quick burst from USC's band as a pair of cheerleaders danced along.
He had an uneven first season with the Trojans, making some questionable decisions that led to 14 interceptions. Still, Barkley threw for over 2,700 yards and 15 touchdowns to become the only freshman semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's best quarterback.
Barkley developed into a mature leader by his sophomore season, again throwing for over 2,700 yards, with 26 TDs, a completion rate of 62 percent and 12 interceptions. He also handled questions about USC's sanctions with poise, never shying away from talking about the program's difficulties.
As a junior, he developed into one of the country's best quarterbacks, throwing for 3,528 yards and 39 touchdowns with only seven interceptions on a team that was one of the best in the country the last half of the season. The Trojans won seven of their final eight games, though they had to endure a second straight bowl-less season thanks to postseason sanctions that end next season.
USC left tackle Matt Kalil declared for the NFL draft last week, but on Wednesday safety T.J. McDonald said he was returning for his senior year. Now with Barkley, the Trojans are loaded and likely one of the front-runners to win next year's national title.
Barkley also will enter next season as the leading contender for the Heisman Trophy ? much the way Luck did when he made a similar decision after the 2010 season ? and can firm up his place as one of the best quarterbacks in the history of a program filled with great ones.
"I think looking at the team that we have there is that chance," Barkley said of playing in a BCS game next season. "We're on the rise and like I said in my (opening) statements, I feel like there is unfinished business."
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LOS ANGELES -- Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley has decided to return for his senior season and put off the NFL for another year. With USC coach Lane Kiffin and his family in attendance, ...
LOS ANGELES -- Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley has decided to return for his senior season and put off the NFL for another year. With USC coach Lane Kiffin and his family in attendance, ...
CFFGeek Must admit, I'm pretty surprised Matt Barkley is returning for SR season. Great NFL draft news for RG3 if he decides to make the jump.
CollegeGameDay "I have not yet finished my journey here as a Trojan football player." It's official. Matt Barkley returning to #USC next year.
BFeldmanCBS As expected, Matt Barkley has announced he's returning to USC for his SR year, says the 2012 team has "serious business" to take care of.
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2 hours ago( 8:41 PM) This worked out awesome for the last USC QB who stayed in school for his senior year. I'll conceed that Barkley looks like a much better player than Leinart but one injury could cost him millions of $$.
2 hours ago( 8:06 PM) The real winner - mark my words - is Joe Webb. Right now he's second string behind Ponder even though he's far more exciting and a playmaker. The Vikings have decided Joe is not going to ever be given a chance to earn a starting spot because they overinvested in Ponder and that starts with their coach Frazier who personally promoted Ponder's being drafted. Therefore no matter how bad Ponder plays he's the man the Vikings are going to develop. They must get rid of Joe because if Ponder gets hurt and Webb fills in and does well then the fan base is going to start screaming for Joe. Best guess is they'll trade Joe for a draft pick and this kid going back to school and two others not yet declaring might get the Vikings a three instead of four or five. Mike Tomlin, are you watching this? Get him, he'll do great things for you.
3 hours ago( 7:53 PM) He's the real deal, the closest I've seen to Carson Palmer, but he throws better on the run. One more year will do him a world of good. He'll really be NFL ready (he is now). The only thing is, he's going to be on an awful team when he comes out.
3 hours ago( 7:49 PM) Could not've asked for a better Christmas gift!!!!! Awesome news, with a capital "A"! Thank you Matt for making Trojan fans truely happy this Holiday Season!
3 hours ago( 7:47 PM) It's the smart move. He could end up being the No. 1 pick in next year's draft. This year, there's no chance, with Andrew Luck around.
3 hours ago( 7:23 PM) Great decision. The fact is, Barkley comes from a well-to-do family and doesn't need the money like some others. They also have insurance against future earnings in case he gets injured next year. Finally, there's very little he can do to lower his draft stock. He's in a great position to lead the Trojans back to the elite level, become the best QB in school history (an incredible feat!) and take home some hardware. College is once in a lifetime - enjoy it while you can!
4 hours ago( 6:45 PM) Even tho' USC is a UW Pac-12 rival, I am thrilled with this news. Matt is great fun to watch and deserves the accolades he earned this season. He will doubtless enter into the Heisman (and win) and break school records.
4 hours ago( 6:35 PM) I was hoping to see him stay for his Senior Season... With what he had gone threw in those last 3 years and not get anything out of it... Now with the chances he has to hit a few of those accomplishments, The Rose Bowl, National Championship, Heisman, plus more...
He shows his great Leadership with this more following, Florida's Tebow, Washington's Locker, Standford's Luck, plus a few more... Juniors that stayed for that Senior year... (Mel Kiper) is a totally IDIOT!! He was arguing saying it was best for Matt Barkley to (Go Pro), take the money... It wasn't better for Matt Barkley to go back to USC and try and win a Heisman or get the Trojans to a BCS Championship... It shows the FEAR Mel Kiper has in himself and the fight, courage, strength, an efforts Matt will have to show...
3 hours ago( 7:07 PM) Kiper's line of reasoning reminds me of Oscar Wilde's famous observation that a cynic is "someone who knows the cost of everything but the value of nothing."
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