Matt Barkley To Start For USC

"I don't feel intimidated at all," Barkley said Thursday night after another practice with the first-team offense. "There's been some great quarterbacks here, we all know that, and I'm just excited to be a part of it. ... I've been preparing this whole time like I'm the starter. That's what I came in here in January hoping to do."

Barkley will become the first non-redshirt freshman quarterback to start a season opener for the Trojans.

With an outstanding performance in training camp, Barkley beat out sophomore Aaron Corp to start the Trojans' season opener against San Jose State at the Coliseum on Sept. 5.

Coach Pete Carroll unexpectedly announced his decision two days before USC's mock game, which was expected to be a deciding factor in the derby between Barkley, Mitch Mustain and Corp, the starter out of spring practice.

Instead, Carroll and quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates felt they didn't need to wait.

Nudge's Take: I don't like this move at all. There's only two things that may explain this move.

1) Barkley is in fact that good. SO good he's going to be the first true freshman ever to start at USC.

or 2) Corp and Mustain must be not all that good. We know Corp has been hurt, but to name a true freshman the starter over him before the season starts. That just has to kill him. Nice move Mitch Mustain transferring to USC. This former five star recruit will never see the field again in his college career.

This is a strange move here by Carroll


source:espn.go.com