USC QB Sam Darnold receives some Spring Football Praise from Athlon

With spring football taking place all over the country Athlon Sports decided to rank all 130 potential starting FBS quarterbacks. USC’s own Sam Darnold ranked second on the list only to 2016 Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson, with Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield, Ohio State’s J.T. Barret, and Washington’s Jake Browne rounding out the top 5. You can find the complete list here.

Other notable QB’s were Washington State’s Luke Faulk who was ranked 8th and UCLA’s Josh Rosen who was ranked 10th, both of whom will have a head to head match up with Darnold this upcoming season. Now, it is difficult to argue with Lamar Jackson being ranked number 1, 3,543 yards passing with 30 touchdowns coupled with 1,571 and 21 touchdowns on the ground are ridiculous video game numbers. Darnold however, finished 2016 with 3086 yards passing and 31 touchdowns. Adding 250 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground.

I said it was difficult to argue with Jackson being number one, but Darnold’s stats are impressive and he did so in only 10 starts compared to Jackson’s 13. The only reason, and it is a good one, that Darnold being ranked second is ok with me, is that Jackson won the Heisman. A Heisman winner should get the nod in spring rankings, but with a season under his belt, young speedy wideouts poised for their time in the spotlight and Coach Tee Martin opening up the spread attack, Darnold has a chance to be ranked number 1 when it matters and that’s in December.