Matt Barkley Commits to USC

by USCLink on Jan 23, 2008 7:59 PM PST Comment 9 comments

[editor's note, by DC Trojan] Bumped from the Diaries.

An awesome get, and glad to keep him in house. Wearesc.com has the story right here. I don't know much about him, but his dad was a Trojan, he's got a rocket arm, and just committed, so life is good right now.

Fight on and beat the Beavers/Cavaliers!

Update [2008-1-23 23:33:33 by DC Trojan]: This further detail from the LA Times:

Barkley said he visited USC on Saturday and came to the conclusion there was no need to wait any longer on making a decision even though he can't sign a letter of intent until February of 2009.

"With all the success USC has to offer, I feel it's the best opportunity to grow as a quarterback," Barkley said. "The competition is like none other. I've always loved USC and I wanted to get the burden of the recruiting process over before I start back with Mater Dei football."

Barkley's decision offers a boost to the Trojans just as rival UCLA was gaining attention for hiring former USC assistant Norm Chow as its offensive coordinator. On the same day last Saturday that Barkley visited USC Coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, in the afternoon he went to UCLA for an unofficial visit with his cousin, receiver Robbie Boyer, and was taken around campus by Bruins Coach Rick Neuheisel.

Barkley said he considers Chow "a great coach" and had met him previously at a camp, but his ties to USC were strong, considering that his father, Les, played water polo for the Trojans.

Hopefully this is one commitment that sticks!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Conquest Chronicles' writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Conquest Chronicles' writers or editors.

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USC rules

Touchdown for USC. The Trojan domination continues. Yeah, UCLA got Norm Chow but he can't throw touchdowns. Trojans rule.

by tornados28 on Jan 24, 2008 9:08 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Gatorade National Player of the Year

I believe he's the first to win this as a Junior.

He's also the #1 overall prospect for 2009 at Rivals.

It's time to get to know Matt Barkley, kids.

by Monroe on Jan 24, 2008 1:32 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

when his signature

is on the dotted line I will believe it.

by Paragon SC on Jan 24, 2008 4:08 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Its better timing for him to go to ucla

Ben Olson is done after the 2009 season, which leaves the QB spot wide open at ucla with Pat Cowan, and Forcier already competing for the job. If Barkley committed to the bruins, he would be in a position to possibly grab the starting job in his true freshman year.

By coming to USC, he has to sit behind Sanchez for at least a year, and Mustain for 2 years. With a redshirt, the earliest I see him getting the starting job is as a reshirt sophmore. This worked out well for Matt Leinart, so maybe its part of his strategy to sit around for a couple of seasons and learn the offense.

Turning down a chance to start earlier in his carreer, as well as the opportunity to play for Norm Chow, is suprising. I guess those rings that those bruins are running around Carroll aren't working too well.

by frak on Jan 24, 2008 4:19 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

He does come from a USC family...

I think most people were expecting him to commit to USC, though the timing is a little unusual.

by SuperBruinMan on Jan 24, 2008 4:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

True

Seems that his desire to go to USC pretty much couldn't be derailed. I don't know how hard Neuheisel was chasing this kid.

by frak on Jan 24, 2008 8:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Respectfully disagree

Given that the PC mantra for USC is competition competition competition, I don't think the conventional wisdom applies here. There is no guaranteed line of succession at the QB position. Yes, Barkley will need to catch up with guys who are already there (Sanchez, Mustain, AND Corp-don't forget him) and it's unlikely he will start his first year, but there's also no guarantee he would start any sooner across town. And even if he did, the Jimmy Clausen story might have made him re-think any ideas he had that a blue-chip QB can single-handedly determine a team's future. Have the huzzahs about the hiring of Neuweasel in Westwood surpassed all the ink wasted on the impact "offensive genius" Charlie Weis would have at ND?

One cfb team in LA has a proven track record of success. One team is hoping to ride a momentum of good press (for a change) to a better future. Which seems like the better bet? Matt Cassell was a perennial backup QB at USC and is now the #2 guy at New England, which should speak volumes.

by Defender90 on Jan 24, 2008 11:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes you're right

QB succession is not guaranteed, but its likely that Sanchez with start over Mustain, and Mustain would then take the starting job after that. Barkley could snatch the job from one of those guys. Its not impossible, but highly unlikely in my opinion.

by frak on Jan 25, 2008 11:52 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs