Mitch Mustain (left) might be the starter for USC as Matt Barkley recovers from a high ankle sprain
When USC quarterback Matt Barkley went down late in the first half of last week’s game at Oregon State, longtime backup Mitch Mustain saw his first significant playing time since he was the Arkansas starter back in 2006.
He wasn’t able to bring the Trojans back from a 20-0 deficit, but with Barkley still recovering from a high ankle sprain, Mustain might finally get a shot to show his stuff this weekend against Notre Dame.
A start – and a win – against the Irish would be a plum reward for a guy who took the very long route toward being the USC quarterback.
A top recruit out of high school, Mustain started at Arkansas as a true freshman, racking up an 8-0 record with the Razorbacks before being benched. When offensive coordinator (and Mustain’s high school coach) left the program, Mustain and wide receiver Damian Williams transferred to USC.
Williams became the Trojans’ leading receiver in 2009, while Mustain languished on the bench, backing up Mark Sanchez, Matt Barkley, and former Trojan Aaron Corp.
Coming out of Arkansas, Mustain could’ve transferred nearly anywhere. He chose USC, where the depth at quarterback made him a long shot, even with his stellar starting record as a Razorback.
When USC was hit with NCAA sanctions, Mustain had the option to transfer again, maybe to a program where the returning starter wasn’t a sophomore Pac-10 standout. He chose to stay, to backup Barkley, to serve as long snapper and, just maybe, finally get his shot.
That chance might come this Saturday, if Barkley is unable to play, and Mustain is more than ready.
Coach Lane Kiffin said Mustain, who was 8 of 17 for 60 yards after replacing Barkley, had a “phenomenal” week of practice.
Is there a better time to showcase that than against Notre Dame in the Coliseum on his senior day?
Mustain is undeniably talented – you don’t go 8-0 as a true freshman quarterback in the SEC if you’re not. But one has to wonder just how good he really is, if he’s been unable to muscle his way into the role in more than two years at USC. Prior to last season, it was as open a competition as you’ll find at ‘SC, yet Mustain fell to third-string behind Barkley and Corp.
Despite Kiffin’s claims that all starting jobs were up for grabs before this season, it never seemed like Barkley’s status was in question, even though he’d struggled at times last year. And when Mustain got his chance to take over the game to start the second half last week, he didn’t exactly shine.
He was in a tough spot against OSU, certainly, being handed the reins in a 20-0 hole, but he looked rusty and out-of-sorts, rather than confident he could lead a comeback. He looked nothing like the guy who threw for a first down on a fake field goal and later lamented that it didn’t go in for a touchdown. He looked more like Barkley did last year as a freshman, just finding his footing.
The intangibles – confidence, poise, and leadership – are where Barkley has the edge. Before he was injured, he wasn’t playing well, but team doesn’t seem to panic when he’s in the pocket, because he doesn’t panic. We’ll never know if he could’ve turned things around in the second half and bring the Trojans back, but I suspect the rest of the team would’ve trusted Barkley enough to think there was a chance, however slim.
After all, in 2008, in the same stadium, USC was down big before Mark Sanchez brought them within a touchdown of the win. Sanchez has done the same thing, numerous times, in his young NFL career, so maybe it’s just his forte, but I suspect it has just as much to do with the leadership at the quarterback position.
For better or worse, Matt Barkley is the face of the Trojans, and though Mustain’s been with the team longer, to someone outside the locker room, he still doesn’t really seem like he fits. That may be more of reflection of his lack of visibility, since his choices to come to USC and to stay at USC clearly show he’s committed to being part of the program.
All that could change this weekend on a big stage against Notre Dame. Even if Kiffin waits until game day to announce his starter, Mustain will be better prepared than when he was thrown into the middle of last Saturday’s game.
He knows it might be his one last chance he gets to have the job he’s long wanted, and this time, he’ll be more than ready to take it.
