USC Football: 4 Reasons Max Browne Will Trump Matt Barkley's Legacy

Max Browne is going to have a better career as a USC Trojan and leave a bigger legacy than his predecessor, Matt Barkley.

There are few quarterbacks who could accomplish such a feat, but Browne is a special player who will leave an imprint on the culture of the USC program when his time is done.

Let's take a look at the reasons why Browne will trump Barkley's legacy at USC.

Browne Is Already a College-Level Passer

Browne already plays the game like a polished college senior quarterback. 

He is poised in the pocket and has excellent awareness. When he's given good protection, Browne goes through his progressions like a seasoned veteran. He knows where all his receivers are going to be and calmly waits for the right opportunity to strike.

He also has a rocket for an arm.

Scout.com's evaluation of Browne:

"

Browne has every physical tool you could want and the intangibles to match. Has a great frame, moves around better than given credit for and can make every throw. Mechanically, you could do an instruction video on him as his ball placement, release, and drops are college level right now. 

"

Barkley was also a highly-touted recruit—No. 1 in the nation just like Browne. But there's much more to this story, and Browne has a few other things going for him.

Browne Will Have a Chance to Win Multiple BCS Bowl Games

USC is still reeling from the sanctions the NCAA slapped on the program after the Reggie Bush/O.J. Mayo scandals (h/t Los Angeles Times).

As part of the disciplinary action handed down by the NCAA, USC was banned from postseason play in 2010 and 2011, so no matter how good Matt Barkley has been these past couple of years, he hasn't been able to prove himself on the biggest stage.

Browne will benefit from the program's reinstatement as a BCS contender. 

Barkley will have an opportunity to cap off his career with a bang during his senior season, but Browne will have the chance to do the same every year he's enrolled at USC—provided they don't do something incredibly stupid in the meantime.

Browne Will Have Better Talent Around Him

As part of the disciplinary action leveled against the program, the NCAA took valuable scholarships away from USC.

Per Yahoo! Sports: "A loss of 30 total football scholarships over the 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons."

Since USC is a traditional powerhouse program, they have still managed to lure some of the top recruits in the nation, but 10 scholarships a year makes a huge difference.

By the time Browne starts his sophomore season, the program should be flush with top talent, making Browne's chance to build a legendary legacy more reasonable and likely than it was for Barkley.

Browne Is Driven to Become Great

The Los Angeles Times reports that Browne is doing everything he can to finish high school early so that he can enroll at USC ahead of schedule.

He's doing this in order to give himself the best opportunity to be the No. 1 option to replace Barkley when spring practices begin in 2013.

Barkley did the same thing when he came to USC. It's the main reason he was able to be the starter as a true freshman—something Browne hopes to match.

USC's quarterbacks coach Clay Helton is in favor of the decision, telling the LA Times, "It has been unbelievably advantageous for them [the others who enrolled early]."

Head coach Lane Kiffin agrees: "By the time they get to their first fall, it's like they're not freshmen anymore."

Browne has an excellent opportunity to become the starting quarterback as a true freshman, and his drive to succeed will push him to earn the right.

He is going to follow in the footsteps of the long list of USC quarterbacks who have left their mark on the program, the campus and on the hearts of the loyal fans in Southern California. 

Browne will win more games and throw for more yards and touchdowns than Barkley throughout his career and ultimately bring the national championship trophy back to USC, cementing himself as one of the program's greatest quarterbacks of all-time.

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