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USC Football: Is Sam Darnold a sure-fire franchise quarterback?

By Matty Breisch

Nov 19, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold (14) sets up to pass the football in the second half against the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold (14) sets up to pass the football in the second half against the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Meet the Player

Sam Darnold is a 19-year-old redshirt sophomore from Capistrano Beach, Calif. Growing up Darnold played basketball and football, before find his calling as a quarterback in his sophomore season of high school.

After missing the majority of his junior season with a foot injury, Sam led his team to the CIF-Southern Section Southwest Division championship game, while passing for over 3,000 yards, rushing for over 800 and scoring 52 touchdowns.

Sam’s efforts earned him a four-star rating from Rivals.com, and scholarship offers from nearly a dozen Division 1 college football programs including Oregon, Duke and Utah. Darnold’s recruitment would eventually end with him accepting an offer to his dream school, USC.

After watching Sam throw at a workout at USC’s campus then-head coach Steve Sarkisian knew that Sam had something special and needed him as a Trojan.

Darnold arrived in Los Angeles in the fall of 2015 and joined a crowded quarterback room that also housed future 3rd round pick Cody Kessler.  He would go on to redshirt during Kessler’s final season in LA, which gave him the opportunity to learn new head coach Clay Helton’s playbook after Steve Sarkisian was fired midway through the 2015 season.

Entering the 2016 season USC was without a incumbent starter at QB. Instead of naming a player out the gate, Clay Helton allowed his players to compete for the open position, pitting Darnold against redshirt sophomore Max Browne. While Sam did show flashes of star potential, the team instead chose to start Browne, the former No. 1 rated QB in the nation, whom was recruited to USC by Helton himself.

Related Story: Sam Darnold shines as USC topples Penn State in Rose Bowl shootout

However, Browne’s tenure as USC’s starting quarterback would be short lived. After going 1-2, including a 52-6 loss to No. 1-ranked Alabama, Helton knew that the team needed a spark to change his team’s fortune and hoped that Sam Darnold could help to turn things around.

And oh how they turned.

Sam led USC to a 9-1 record over the 10 games he started while throwing for 3,086 yards and 31 touchdowns. Darnold’s performances were nothing short of brilliant, and ultimately turned a 1-3 team into the No. 9 team in the nation. USC was selected to play in the 2017 Rose Bowl against Penn State, a game that would be considered by many to be an instant classic.

Darnold lead his team to a nail biting 52-49 victory, going 33-of-53 for 453 yards and was ultimately  awarded the MVP of the Rose Bowl.

While the 2017 season will be crucial for Darnold’s continued development, teams are already clamoring over his potential at the next level.

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