If you want to gripe, Barkley is already enrolled at USC and will participate in spring practice, but he’s in here anyways because he’s the best QB recruit of the year, the prototypical pocket passer with the elite-high school resume. A product of Mater Dei high school (arguably the best high school program in the country), Barkley took the helm as a freshman and never looked back, and pretty much has had the recruiting world in a tizzy since his junior year.
There are a lot of elements that make Bradley seem like a can’t miss QB…at 6′4” and around 220, he already has the size that NFL teams are looking for in a QB, he’s got the big arm that’s accurate enough and the coolness in the pocket that belies his youth. Of course, this is the thing that’s said about EVERY prospective QB coming out of high school. Barkley has a few things going for him, though, that seperate him from the rest of the QB prospects…the fact he operated from a “pro-style” offense and has the requisite footwork and his alma mater, which means he played against some of the best high school competition in the country.
While he looks like the real deal, it should be noted that QB prospecting is a dangerous game. Terrelle Pryor’s biggest knock was that he looked like a better athlete because he didn’t play in Pennsylvania’s top division, which of course was rendered retarded when he was the best athlete on the field as a true freshman in college. Compare that to Anthony Morrelli, who DID play in the Keystone State’s highest division and succeeded wildly at that level, but then was a MASSIVE flop at Penn State.
Sure, some of that has to do with coaching, and PSU’s coaches are notoriously awful, but take a loot at Notre Dame’s last two QB’s…Brady Quinn was fantastic during the Weis years, but then number 1 overall recruit Jimmy Clausen comes in and looks like one of the worst QB’s ever to put on a helmet. Was a lot of that due to targets and OL? Sure, but it’s not like Brady Quinn was playing with world beaters either…
So, while Barkley looks like a sure thing…be wary.
Video Evidence:
Will he be good?: I say yep…it’s USC. I wouldn’t even be shocked if he started a few games.
Filed under: Get to Know a Recruit | Tagged: Matt Barkley
Barkley is overatted. Mater Dei Blows
first! Barkley had a shitty season.
[...] good point made in one blog regarding the new USC recruit: “Barkley took the helm as a freshman (in high school) and never looked back. He has a few [...]
You make a good point about Matt having tough competition in high school. I quoted some of what you said. I’m lookin forward to hearing about how he does in the spring game if he plays. You think he might actually start some games, eh? I don’t know if he’ll get any starts, but I would expect him to at least take a few snaps every now and again – you know, when USC is up 41-0 at halftime of every game!
These high-powered recruits are always fun to watch.
[...] good point made in one blog regarding the new USC recruit: “Barkley took the helm as a freshman (in high school) and never looked back. He has a few [...]