Matt Barkley – Quarterback - 6-3, 220 - Mater Dei High School
Scout Ranking: #1 Quarterback
Matt Barkley is the crown jewel in the 2009 recruiting class and the type of player and person that every coach would love to have on their roster. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound quarterback has all the tools to develop into a truly special signal-caller for the Trojans. Barkley has a strong arm, good accuracy and great leadership qualities that he has shown on the field as well as in the volunteer work he has done in his community.
Rated as Scout.com’s top quarterback, Barkley is the most polished passer in the 2009 recruiting class. He passed for 79 touchdowns in his high school career and was named the Gatorade National Football Player of the Year in 2007, becoming the only junior to win the award.
According to Carroll: “Offensively, when you start off with the best player in the country at quarterback in Matt Barkley – and he’s already here in school – that’s an extraordinary boost to your class and a great starting point. We’re thrilled to have him here and he’s already working and will be in the thick of the quarterback competition.”
Reason for Choosing USC: “I chose USC because I simply love the football program and because of the great education I will receive. There is an incredible tradition of competition, excellence, enthusiasm and winning that I am excited to be a part of.”
Chose USC Over: UCLA, Cal, Florida, Tennessee, Nebraska, Stanford
Future Impact: Barkley is the most advanced quarterback coming out of high school in 2009, and will get an opportunity to compete with Mitch Mustain and Aaron Corp for the starting spot at USC as a freshman. He will need to have a nearly perfect spring to overtake Mustain and Corp, who each have two years of experience in the system.
Matt Barkley will compete with Mitch Mustain and Aaron Corp for the starting QB spot.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions you can reach Kevin Carden at kevin@scplaybook.com