USC Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley is set to announce something or other about his NFL Draft status at a Thursday press conference. College players don't normally call for a media gathering just to say they're sticking around, especially not when they're projected to be the second quarterback off the board, but far stranger things have happened.
NFL Draft 2012: Matt Barkley Might Announce USC Return, According To Reports
Buzz is growing that Barkley will stick around, whether he’s changed his mind or just has a flair for showmanship. Actually, we already know the latter is true about him.
CBS Sports’ Bruce Feldman cites former USC quarterback Matt Leinart, who opinionated -- not exactly predicted -- Barkley will stay. Feldman also says “other USC folks” feel the same way. And Tony Pauline, a Sports Illustrated NFL Draft contributor, reports Barkley may have indeed changed his mind:
@TonyPauline This comes as a shock to me but sources from So Cal tell me the word is Matt Barkley reversed course and is likely to stay at USC.
Weeks ago, even Trojans coach Lane Kiffin had all but given up on his star quarterback returning. At the time, Kiffin said Barkley would only return if he wanted to be a special player who’d go down in USC history.
Suppose we’ll find out soon.
For more on the Trojans, visit USC blog Conquest Chronicles. For more NFL Draft, visit Mocking The Draft.
See More:
