Will There Be a Heisman Trophy In Matt Barkley's Future?

The Heisman Memorial Trophy is the most prestigious individual award in all of College Football. It is awarded to the most outstanding player in collegiate football.

While Matt Barkley may only be a true freshman, it is my belief that he will be a recipient of this great honor before his time is done at USC.

Young Mr. Barkley has all the makings of becoming a Heisman winner and the deck may be stacked in his favor to one day hoist the trophy above his head.

The Program

Barkley plays for one of the premier programs in college football today. The Trojans of USC are constantly in contention for the national title, and being in the heart of the entertainment capital of the world garners them much attention.

Attention, press, and playing in games that have national title implications are all keys to getting noticed by the Heisman voters.

USC has a rich Heisman history, boasting seven previous winners; including three winners within a four-year span. All three of those award recipients played under the tutelage of current head coach Pete Carroll.

While Carroll is known for his defensive mind, his ability to identify and develop quarterback talent is uncanny. There are currently five Carroll-coached Trojan quarterbacks currently playing in the NFL, three are starters, and two are former Heisman Trophy winners themselves.

Carroll is also known for being a master recruiter; this may play the biggest role in Barkley’s future as a Heisman hopeful.

Football is the ultimate team sport, so if someone is going to stand out as an individual they must have the talent around them to showcase their skills. USC has talent in droves, and as long as Carroll is at the helm, they are going to continue to attract blue chip recruits.

USC is not the only program that will have played a role in the Heisman journey for Barkley. Mater Dei High School is one of the best programs in the country. In fact, Mater Dei is one of two high schools to have produced multiple Heisman Trophy winners: Matt Leinart in 2004 and John Huarte in 1964.

Being a part of two historically powerful programs is a great place to begin for any Heisman hopeful. What sets Barkley apart is the fact the he was the first person to ever start all four years for Mater Dei at QB, and he was the first true freshman to ever start a season opener for the mighty Trojans.

Barkley has all the prestige and pedigree on his side, but there is still more to his impending Heisman victory.

The Talent and Swagger

Barkley is a talented young man with a skill set that most college QBs would love to have. He has great arm strength and good accuracy, but what sets him apart may just be his comfort inside the pocket. Barkley has a great feel for what is going on around him when he's inside the pocket. The scary thing is that Barkley still has a great deal of potential that remains untapped and he is still working within a system that has yet to be fully incorporated.

Barkley also has that “IT” factor that the great ones have. It is that aura of greatness and confidence that those special players are surrounded by. Barkley has “IT,” and while some may say that he is arrogant, I say his “IT” is the swagger needed to take his talent and natural gifts to the next level.

Swagger is one of my favorite words, and as a Trojan fan, it is a word we often use to describe our players, our coach, and our team.

Swagger is the confidence in one’s ability to the point where you expect nothing less than greatness. It is what drives a player to succeed in the pressure situations because they expect victory.

Barkley’s swagger was seen by all in the hostile atmosphere of the Horseshoe, when he led the Trojans down the field late in the fourth quarter to rip a victory from the hands of defeat. It was that moment where we all witnessed something special. That moment was the begging of Matt Barkley’s legend.

Matt Barkley is not going to win the Heisman this year, and I doubt that he will win it next year, but let it be known that Matt Barkley will win the Heisman Memorial Trophy before his collegiate career is over.

Matt Barkley is a legend in the making, a legend that will be validated once his name is called and he raises that trophy high into the air.