Matt Barkley

QB · Southern California
Barkley returned to school for his senior year in 2012 in hopes of leading a loaded Trojans roster to a national championship. However, Southern Cal's season imploded, the team finished 7-5 and Barkley's stock took a serious hit even before his senior year ended with a sprained shoulder they kept him out of a bowl loss to Georgia Tech. Barkley's career at USC read like a Hollywood script until the '12 season. The highly regarded prep athlete was the surprising choice by then-head coach Pete Carroll to start the 2009 season after Mark Sanchez elected to enter the 2008 draft. Barkley immediately impressed with his leadership, demonstrating the confidence as a true freshman that normally was reserved for upperclassmen. He has steadily improved his numbers over his career, completing 60 percent of his passes in 2009 for 2,735 yards and 15 touchdowns (14 interceptions), 63 percent in 2010 for 2,791 yards and 26 touchdowns (12 interceptions) and 69 percent as a junior for 3,528 yards, 39 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. His completion percentage dropped back to 63.6 in 2012 and while he was on pace (36) to set a career high in touchdowns thrown, he also saw his interceptions double (15) and missed two full games. There is no getting around Barkley's lack of ideal measureables and that there have been more busts than hits from USC quarterbacks in recent years. Scouts, however, value Barkley's leadership, poise and accuracy on the move. He spent the majority of the pre-draft process trying to prove his shoulder is healthy and that he has the arm strength to make all the necessary NFL throws.