There's an opening at Quarterback U.

BasX · Mar 26, 2009

Pete Carroll preaches that USC football is all about competition.

But when it comes to quarterbacks, the reality has mostly been succession.

Matt Leinart passed the torch, as expected, to John David Booty. Mark Sanchez took over, to the surprise of few, from Booty.

However, Sanchez's early departure for the NFL broke the line.

For the first time in six years, there is no obvious heir apparent.

That's why four players vying to become the new Trojans starter seem energized about the start of spring practice Saturday.

"It's a more level playing field," junior Mitch Mustain said.

Mustain, Aaron Corp, Matt Barkley and Garrett Green recognized a tectonic shift in January, the moment Sanchez announced during a campus news conference that he was turning pro.

They barely noticed Carroll's nationally televised conniption. And with good reason: They were too busy celebrating their sudden good fortune.

"If ever there was a time where there's a true competition, this would be it," Green said later.

Not since 2003, when Leinart edged Matt Cassel in a spring battle to succeed Carson Palmer, has there been a real duel for what has become one of the most glamorous positions in college football.

Booty waited three years before taking the reins from Leinart. Sanchez bided his time until Booty exhausted his eligibility.

But Sanchez's exit after only one season as a starter, plus the recent arrival of new quarterbacks coach and play-caller Jeremy Bates, has left this year's competition wide open. "It doesn't get dull," Carroll said, chuckling. "It will be interesting and fun to watch Jeremy and the quarterbacks work their way through it."

Carroll and Bates maintain that each quarterback will receive equal opportunity.

"All four of them have a chance . . . so it's just a matter of who takes it over," said Bates, who helped groom Jay Cutler into a Pro Bowl player for the Denver Broncos.

Bates, 32, is looking for leadership, command of the offense and huddle, and an ability to take care of the ball and avoid turnovers. Each quarterback, he said, would get chances to work with the first unit.

USC will practice 15 times over the next month, concluding with an April 25 scrimmage at the Coliseum.

A starter could be determined at any time.

"I don't like going into the summer not knowing," Carroll said.

Knowledge of the offense and exceptional mobility might give the fleet-footed Corp a slight edge.
Click to expand...

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-usc-quarterbacks27-2009mar27,0,2362898.story?track=rss

La Bomba · Mar 29, 2009

Mitch Mustain will take it. He was a pretty good player his first year at Arkansas and he was one of the best High School QB's in his class.

dragonscroll · May 7, 2009

It will probably be between Mustain and Corp. I missed the spring huddle this year (same day as the NFL draft) so I was disappointed to not get an early glimpse, but from what I read they seemed to be leaning towards Corp so far.

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