First Josh Rosen. Now you can add Sam Darnold, as the now former USC football starting quarterback has officially declared for the 2018 NFL Draft.
Darnold, a redshirt sophomore, is expected to compete with josh Rosen over the next several months to be the No. 1 selection in the draft. The Cleveland Browns hold that pick.
While Rosen made his intentions known with a statement on Twitter, Darnold released a video:
USC QB Sam Darnold has declared for the NFL Draft. Darnold went 20-4 as a starter during his time at USC. #FightOn pic.twitter.com/99WMogSUrW
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) January 4, 2018
He offered a personal thank you to current USC head coach Clay Helton for “trusting in a kid from San Clemente High School with such little game tape and for giving me the opportunity and chance to start,” along with thanking his family, friends and the rest of the coaching staff.
Darnold became the first USC quarterback to throw for over 4,000 yards in a season this past year, setting the mark with a 356-yard showing vs. Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. He finished the year with 4,143 yards and 26 touchdowns, but was picked off 13 times and saw his completion percentage drop by over four points.
As a redshirt freshman, Darnold took over the starting job and threw for 3,086 yards and 31 touchdowns with nine picks. He completed 246 of 366 that year, finishing this past season 303-for-480.
Darnold threw for over 300 yards eight times this year, including a 397-yard showing in a double-overtime win vs. Texas. The Trojans went 11-3 and claimed the Pac-12 Conference title.
Last year, Darnold saw a handful of snaps in the first three games before taking over the starting role and leading USC to nine consecutive wins. That included a 52-49 victory over Penn State in the Rose Bowl, a game in which he completed 33 of 53 for 453 yards with five touchdowns.
Darnold had four games with at least 300 yards last year, as well.
Looking to replace Darnold next year for the Trojans will be sophomore-to-be Matt Fink, who completed 6 of 9 passes for 43 yards. Jack Sears, who was a freshman this past season, is also on the roster along with sophomore Thomas Fitts and freshman Holden Thomas.
Next: Where does Darnold rank in latest NFL Mock Draft?
Those four will likely be competing with J.T. Daniels, the Gatorade National High School Football Player of the Year, who re-classified and will enroll at USC this summer. He led Mater Dei to a 15-0 record and the California State Open Division championship as a junior this past season.
Daniels threw for 12,014 yards and 152 touchdowns with just 14 interceptions in three years at Mater Dei.