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USC Football: 5 reasons why Sam Darnold should leave after 2017

By Connor Muldowney

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27: Quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans looks down field during the first quarter against the California Golden Bears at Los Angeles Coliseum on October 27, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27: Quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans looks down field during the first quarter against the California Golden Bears at Los Angeles Coliseum on October 27, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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There are rumors that USC football’s star quarterback Sam Darnold could stay in school for two more years, but here’s why he shouldn’t.

Sam Darnold burst onto the scene in 2016. The redshirt freshman quarterback had a heck of season, passing for 3,086 yards and 31 touchdowns while taking a backseat in the first three games of the year.

Not many quarterbacks can put up those types of numbers in just 10 games, but the USC star did just that. He’s entering his redshirt sophomore draft-eligible year at Southern California and could be a No. 1 pick in 2018 should he decide to leave. That’s not a given, though.

According to Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com, there are sources close to Darnold that believe he could stay two more years at USC.

For USC Trojan fans, that’s great news, but for the rest of the country as well as prospective NFL teams, that’s not ideal. He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the 2018 NFL Draft class, but if he decides to return, that means teams looking for a sure-fire franchise QB may have to hold off.

It’s not the best idea for the young gunslinger, though. Here’s a look at why Darnold should forgo his final two years at USC and enter the 2018 NFL Draft.

5. Added pressure to improve

Although Sam Darnold would likely benefit from another year of learning at USC, it would also give scouts more time to pinpoint his weaknesses. No, it’s not necessarily a bad thing to point out flaws and have the young quarterback work to improve, but that will hurt his draft stock.

It’s happened before where a quarterback is clearly NFL-ready, but he stays another year, falls to the third or fourth round and never cracks the No. 1 spot on the depth chart.

Heck, it doesn’t even have to be on-field weaknesses, but it could happen off the field, too. While Darnold has been an excellent role model and quality person off the field, every single quote from him and his teammates about him will be under an intense microscope. He will be criticized constantly for saying/doing anything that the media doesn’t agree with.

It’s not necessarily fair, but that’s the kind of attention a potential No. 1 overall pick will get when he decides to pass up millions of dollars and the NFL for another year of school. Will he handle the pressure well?

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