USC Football: Is Matt Barkley a First-Round Pick After 2011?

As the Trojans muddle through the first of possibly two years of no bowl games (pending the NCAA appeal), quarterback Matt Barkley has quietly put together a very solid year for the men of Troy.

After 10 games, Barkley has compiled a 146.7 quarterback rating while throwing 25 touchdowns against only nine interceptions.

Following a freshman season where he threw almost as many picks as TD's, the growth of the true sophomore has been steady if not remarkable, and under trying circumstances, his leadership has been even more impressive.

Of course, there is plenty of football to be played here in 2010 and Barkley will be back in 2011, but how about 2012?

Will Barkley's progress continue to the point where he can guarantee himself big money as a first round draft pick when he comes out?

To be certain, if Barkley's progress in 2011 mirrors his improvement this year, the numbers will be startling.

And lets not forget that although he will lose wide receiver Ronald Johnson to graduation, a bevy of fast and athletic wide outs, led by phenom Robert Woods will be back and better than ever in 2011.

Head coach Lane Kiffin has already gone on record that with the kind of talent he will have at the skill positions, he will look at variations of offensive sets that stray from the Trojans typical pro set offense.

However, for a possible pro career, this may not work to Barkley's advantage as historically, one of the reasons the Trojans place so many quarterbacks in the NFL is because they run an offense that is compatible with those run at the next level.

Still, the possibility that Barkley puts up big numbers in 2011 are good, and if he does, will it be good enough for the NFL to spend a first round draft pick on him?

This is assuming that Barkley comes out early which may or may not be a foregone conclusion.

And it also assumes that there is a coach that is enamored enough with young Matt to make him his quarterback of the future.

Someone who knows him well.

Maybe that someone resides in the Pacific Northwest.

I wonder how Matt Barkley would look in Seahawk blue?