Matt Barkley, QB, USC Trojans: 2013 NFL Draft Player Profile

Nov 3, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley (7) throws a pass against the Oregon Ducks at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Height: 6’2″

Weight: 220 pounds

Position Rank: 2

Drafted By:

40 Yard Dash:  N/A

Bench Press:  N/A

Vertical Jump:  N/A

Broad Jump:  N/A

20-Yard Shuttle: N/A

Career Stats

Scouting Report/Player Notes

Barkley has been a celebrity at USC ever since he signed on to play for the Trojans, and what a career it’s been for him. He had a fantastic junior season, in which he really out-played a couple of Heisman candidates. At the end of last season, I think the Trojans were playing the NCAA’s version of the role that the Giants played in the NFL, where they were just white hot at the end of last year. Barkley was a huge reason why. His leadership, poise, moxie, and overall football intelligence are very impressive to me. Barkley has a chance to be the number one pick in the draft this year, and I think there’s a really good shot of that happening. He has a strong arm, makes smart plays, and like I said before–the intangibles are there in spades. Barkley will come into the NFL with something pretty rare, especially at a college like USC–he will have four years of starting experience, barring injury. His ability to make plays is uncanny, and he doesn’t just lock in on one receiver. Barkley has a pair of dynamic weapons in junior Robert Woods and sophomore Marquise Hill, and both had over 1,000 yards in 2011. Last year, Barkley completed over 69 percent of his passes with an outstanding TD/INT ratio of 39:7. The thing I’m most impressed by is the fact that Barkley chose to return to school. He could have been a top three to five pick in the 2012 draft, but he chose to finish at USC what he intended to go there for in the first place–end with a championship victory. Barkley has never played in the college postseason. We don’t know what he’s made of in bowl game situations. All we know is that Barkley has grown and matured as a prospect to a height that not many players get to see. He is a big time QB prospect with all the tools to play right away in the NFL, and I think he could be a star someday. He is a humble, down to earth kid living a dream at USC. He has a really bright future ahead of him.

Video Highlights