Mitch Mustain (USC), Pat Devlin (PSU): Two of a Kind

It wasn’t too long ago that no one could touch them on the gridiron. And no one came close. The adulation and awards were all theirs. Scouts praised them. Local sports reporters raved about them. Coaches from major college football programs called them to offer scholarships.

Fans across the nation could recite their names and religiously followed any pronouncement regarding their commitment status on internet recruiting sites.

They were the glory boys. The football world was their oyster. But the "Can’t Miss" label that proponents had hung about their necks in time became a dead weight that dragged them from the height of achievement to the depths of disappointment and frustration.

Such is the life of the prep school All-American quarterback. Despite their enormous stature, when they arrive on campus, the expectations are even higher. And in some cases, much too high. Players that were somewhat lesser stars in prep school and didn't have such large expectations weighing them down could rise to greater heights.

Though the names and destinations are different, the situations are strikingly similar for two such prep school stars: Mitch Mustain and Pat Devlin.

Both were given the word by their respective coaches, Pete Carroll and Joe Paterno, that they didn’t quite make the grade. Unlike some, both accepted the pronouncement with an air of disappointment and yet determination.

Pat Devlin is the Pennsylvania career prep passing leader from Downingtown East, where he amassed 8,162 yards. He originally committed to the University of Miami. But after the "U" fired some assistant coaches, Devlin reneged on his commitment and enrolled at Penn State, his parents’ alma mater.

This week, Penn State head coach, Joe Paterno, informed Devlin that his rival, Daryl Clark, would be the starting quarterback. Although the competition was close, Devlin was told that the coaches felt Clark had been more accurate.

Clark, a redshirt junior, still has another year of eligibility, which means Devlin, the 2005 Pennsylvania Class AAAA Player-of-the-Year and the Gatorade Pennsylvania Player-of-the-Year, might not have a chance to start until his senior year.

Mitch Mustain’s situation seems even bleaker. Not only was Mustain the 2005 Gatorade, USA Today and Parade Magazine Player of the Year, he even started eight games for the Arkansas Razorbacks as a true freshman and had an 8-0 record.

After having a falling out with then Arkansas head coach, Houston Nutt, who dismissed offensive coordinator, Gus Malzahn (Mustain’s high school coach), Mustain decided to transfer. He considered the University of Tulsa, where Malzahn took over the offensive coordinator duties. But he eventually followed another Arkansas transfer and high school teammate, Damian Williams, to USC.

Both Williams and Mustain had to sit out last season due to transfer rules, but both put in time on the scout team for Trojan practices.

This season, however, Mustain was supposed to be in a head-to-head battle with Mark Sanchez for the starting quarterback spot. As it turned out, the usually stoic Mustain lost that competition to Sanchez not long after it began. Pete Carroll named the exuberant Sanchez as the Trojans starting quarterback a week before Spring practice ended.

Carroll felt that Sanchez had a much better command of the Trojan offense.

This summer Mustain found himself in another head-to-head battle not for the Number 1 spot but for the Number 2 spot with redshirt freshman, Aaron Corp. This week Mustain learned that it was another losing battle. Carroll named Corp as the Trojans Number 2 quarterback.

It is hard to imagine the heartbreak and disappointment that young players who are used to being winners must feel when they suddenly find themselves losing battles that they had so easily won in the past.

Both Mustain and Devlin were unable to hide their frustration. Yet, neither felt defeated. Asked if they would transfer, neither one would consider it.

Players of lesser character would immediately begin making contact with other schools trying to line up the best possible situation for themselves. A situation where they could once again feel like winners.

But Mustain and Devlin are determined to remain with their current teams and continue to work on their game and maybe one day fulfill the destiny that many felt was inevitable.

They may have temporarily fallen from the ranks of the esteemed. They may have lost some of the polish they once had. They may have to work harder, to play tougher, but they are certainly not quitters. Win or lose, both Devlin and Mustain have the character of champions.