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USC wisely names Max Browne starting QB over Sam Darnold

By Patrick Schmidt

Mar 8, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Max Browne (4) reacts during spring practice at Howard Jones Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Max Browne (4) reacts during spring practice at Howard Jones Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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The USC football team will head into their season opener against Nick Saban and Alabama with Max Browne as the starting quarterback.

Max Browne is the winner of the USC Trojans quarterback competition. The redshirt junior quarterback edged out redshirt freshman Sam Darnold for the right to start the season opener against defending champion Alabama.

The decision shouldn’t come as a surprise considering Browne and head coach Clay Helton have worked together closely over the last four years. Browne came to USC as a highly touted five-star recruit from Sammamish, WA but backed up Cody Kessler as he waited for his time.

His wait was much longer than the former five-star recruit who was the No. 11 overall recruit and No. 1 pro-style recruit, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, but his patience has been rewarded.

Browne’s the most experienced quarterback on the roster but he doesn’t have much playing experience. He has completed 11-of-19 passes for 143 yards in his career and could top those numbers before halftime against Alabama. USC has talented weapons around him with JuJu Smith-Schuster, game-changing talent in Adoree Jackson and a running back duo led by Justin Davis and the explosive Ronald Jones.

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If Browne can get protection and have a clean pocket to throw from, he should be able to show off his prized arm. He’s not very mobile or quick-footed so the onus is on the talented USC offensive line to protect him.

Darnold shouldn’t be too discouraged about losing the job. He gave Browne a fight and his development has to be encouraging for the future. He may not be ready to start right now, but if his rapid progression continues, he could wrestle the job away from Browne should he struggle into the second half of the schedule.

It may be a conservative move to go with Browne to start the opener, but he’s earned the chance to prove he can keep the job. There will be skeptics who think Helton only named Browne the starter so he won’t transfer, but call me naive, but I don’t think Helton would do that to him unless he believed he was the best choice to lead the team against Alabama.

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Darnold will be better served by gaining some seasoning to let his raw talent time to be harnessed. Browne was the logical and safe choice, but he’s also the best choice to win today.

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