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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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PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 02: Quarterback Sam Darnold
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 02: Quarterback Sam Darnold /

3. Risking a major injury

Could you imagine the backlash Sam Darnold would face, especially to his own wallet, if he were to return for his redshirt junior season and a couple games in, tear his ACL? No, it’s not a career-ending injury, but it would surely affect his draft stock and could even bounce him from the first round.

It’s not even just that serious of an injury. It could be a dislocated shoulder or “sore elbow” that could have potential NFL landing spots on high alert. Darnold hasn’t been injured during his career at USC and another clean 2017 season with no major injuries could be a big enough selling point to teams to take him No. 1.

However, let’s say he remains healthy throughout 2017 and comes back in 2018 and suffers a major injury that either sets him out a few games or for the entire season and doesn’t look the same in workouts leading up to the draft, then there’s a major issue.

Players can take out insurance policies if their stock is affected by injuries, which is the safe route, but why even take that risk when you can avoid it all together and enter the 2018 NFL Draft as a top-10 lock?

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