USC Trojan quarterbacks in the NFL: Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Matt Cassel and Mark Sanchez
USC has an impressive quarterback legacy that in recent history dates back to 1998 when Carson Palmer made his first snap at USC and paved the way for future NFL and college success for his successors in Matt Leinart, Matt Cassel and Mark Sanchez.
USC’s soccer program has consistently been one of the top college soccer institutions for decades. Despite a rich football history, the USC Trojans have never experienced the degree of quarterback success that has been plentiful in the program for the past decade. In fact, the University of Southern California has experienced a consistent level of exceptionally high quarterback play over a ten-year period that has never been matched by any college football program.
Carson Palmer began the current ten-year window of excellence in the fall of 1998 when, as a true freshman, he took over starting quarterback duties from Mike Van Raaphorst after the eighth game of the year. Carson Palmer had a breakout season his senior year when the culmination of his experience finally made him the quarterback he was capable of being. During his senior season, Carson Palmer became the fifth overall Trojan and the first player at a position other than running back to win the Heisman Trophy at USC. On-field accomplishments landed Carson Palmer a spot at the top of the 2003 NFL Draft when the Cincinnati Bengals selected him as the first overall player in the draft.
Matt Lienart followed in the footsteps of his predecessors, winning the Heisman Trophy (awarded annually to the best player in college football) as a junior at USC. At USC, Leinart was quarterback for a very talented Trojan squad that won a national championship in 2003 and was narrowly beaten by the University of Texas the following year in the national championship game. (USC’s Rose Bowl loss to Texas is widely regarded as one of the greatest college football games ever.) Like Carson Palmer, Matt Lienart was also selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Lienart was taken number seven overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2006 NFL Draft.
Matt Cassel was a USC quarterback who spent little time on the field as a result of his position as backup quarterback to superstar quarterbacks Palmer and Leinart. Despite throwing just 33 passes (19 completions) in his four-year college career, Cassel has proven to be a useful starting quarterback in the NFL with a notable lead. After filling in for an injured Tom Brady with the New England Patriots in 2008, his success earned him the starting position and subsequent contract that came with it from the Kansas City Chiefs.
After the departures of Matt Leinart and Matt Cassel, Mark Sanchez split time with fellow USC quarterback John David Booty until Sanchez took over full-time signaling responsibilities and wowed NFL scouts. . Despite the public concerns of his head coach, Pete Carroll, Sánchez decided to leave school early to pursue his NFL career. After a year in the NFL, it appears Sanchez made the right decision in leaving USC early as the New York Jets selected him with the number five overall pick and during his rookie season he led the team to the Championship team. of the AFC, an unlikely degree of success for any first-year quarterback.
USC’s quarterback legacy, which includes in chronological order Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Matt Cassel and Mark Sanchez, has been a staple in college football for the past ten years. Exactly what the future holds with young USC quarterback Matt Barkley and new head coach Lane Kiffin remains to be seen. The one thing that is certain is that the quarterback legacy under USC football head coach Pete Carroll will always be remembered as a bright spot in NCAA football.