Stanford at USC: 5 Reasons Matt Barkley Should Stay for Senior Season

USC quarterback Matt Barkley is one of the top players in the country this season, but not everyone might know that at this point.

One glaring reason for that is because of the hype surrounded by the likes of Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson and Landry Jones. Another reason might be because USC has fallen out of the national spotlight due to their team infractions that will keep them from being BCS eligible.

But either way, Barkley is a special talent with a bright future ahead of him, and he will have a big decision to make at the end of this year on whether he comes back for his senior season or not.

Let's break down five reasons why Barkley should return for his senior year at USC.

5. Let Andrew Luck Clear Out

Andrew Luck has dominated the headlines this season and that will continue all the way up until he is drafted.

So, if Barkley waits for Luck to clear out, those headlines and praise should come directed Barkley's way in 2012.

It seems like every year there is that one quarterback to gets a ton of attention; making everyone else seemingly an afterthought. Last year we saw it with Cam Newton, and this year we are seeing it with Andrew Luck.

Next year, that guy could very well be Barkley.

4. He Will Get to Play in a Bowl

Back in 2010, the NCAA handed down a two-year ban on USC, which prohibited them from playing in a bowl game.

That ban will continue this year, but should be lifted in 2012. Therefore, if Barkley chose to stay for his senior season, he would have the opportunity to play in a Bowl Game, which is obviously a dream for any college player.

With how good this USC team has looked of late, that could be a pretty darn good bowl if Barkley decided to lace them up for USC one more year.

3. Wait for LA Team in 2013

It's sounding more and more like an NFL football team could be moving to Los Angeles sooner than later.

Maybe it will be the Jaguars, maybe it will be the Bills or maybe it will be a team new all together, but either way, its going to happen at some point.

With that said, how special would it be if Matt Barkley came back for his senior season and then got drafted by the new team based out of LA (just minutes away from the USC campus)?

Sounds like a dream come true.

2. National Title Hopes

USC is good, but they are still young and they are losing recruits because of their NCAA BCS ban.

If Barkley waits a year, USC will be a year better and will have a legitimate chance to do some big things in the Pac-12 conference.

If you look at the Pac-12 right now, Oregon and Stanford are the two teams that are clearly better than USC. Be that as it may, both of those teams will be losing huge pieces to their offense next season.

That could leave USC in the drivers seat to the Rose Bowl, and maybe (even thinking bigger) the National Championship.

1. No. 1 Pick

Right now, there are a number of 2012 NFL Mock Drafts that have Matt Barkley as the No. 3 overall pick in the draft.

Almost all mock drafts have him being a guaranteed Top 5 pick.

But if Barkley came back for his senior season, and put up some great numbers while leading his team to a big-time bowl game, there is no doubt that Barkley should be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

That means more money, more respect, more everything.

It sure sounds like a good move to me.

But does it to Barkley?