Will possible No. 1 pick Darnold postpone professional career?
Sam Darnold is a unique football player. He's a special talent who could potentially be the top overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
So why are people talking about the USC superstar quarterback possibly returning to the Trojans for two more years?
That’s because according to Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network, sources told him last week at The Opening that, “they wouldn't be surprised if Darnold played two more seasons at USC.”
Darnold is a redshirt sophomore, which means he can turn pro after this season. And unless things completely implode in the next few months, the former four-star quarterback from San Clemente, Calif., will almost assuredly be a top-five pick, if not No. 1 overall.
According to his former coach at San Clemente, Darnold is not even partially focused on his NFL stock at this point. It’s too early, and too much is unresolved.
“From my personal observations from working with Sam, Sam’s main focus right now is Western Michigan,” coach Jaime Ortiz said of USC’s season opener. “There are a lot of accolades, a lot of press and a lot of people talking about Sam’s future in the NFL, but one thing that has kept Sam grounded and as successful as he’s been. He’s been focused on one thing – getting USC to the national championship.
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“Sam wants to be 1-0. That was our philosophy in high school and it’s carried over to USC. Sam does a great job of ignoring the noise. … If you were to ask Sam Darnold whether he’d want to play for the Jets or the Patriots or the Raiders, that’s not his focus right now. His focus is USC and getting his team ready to play this season.”
Let’s remember that preseason projections are just those – guesses. Before last season, Miami’s Brad Kaaya was supposed to the top quarterback drafted. He ended up being taken No. 215 overall, pick No. 32 in the sixth round.
Not many believed Clemson’s Deshaun Watson was a first-round talent. They thought that his abilities didn’t translate well to the NFL and were especially concerned about his interceptions. He was the No. 12 pick to Houston. Kansas City moved all kinds of pieces to draft Patrick Mahomes No. 10 overall. He was hardly considered a first-round talent even through the season.
From Ortiz’s perspective, Darnold is too focused and too mature to worry about NFL projections right now. Get it done on the field for USC and that stuff will take care of itself.
In a draft potentially loaded with other high-profile quarterbacks like UCLA’s Josh Rosen, Wyoming’s Josh Allen, Louisville’s Lamar Jackson and others, Darnold isn’t worried about it – yet.
“That’s all hype and it’s just words,” Ortiz said. “His play on the field will determine it. For Sam, there is a heightened awareness of him because he went from a local superstar to a national one and that’s why Sam went to USC. He wanted to put USC back on the map and he accepts that pressure. His performance on the field will dictate what happens.
“Sam has taken the time to speak with former players and former quarterbacks at USC and the biggest thing he’s taken from that is that he has to win today and worry about tomorrow when it comes.”
Tomorrow will be here soon enough.
And it would be stunning if Darnold, who took over the starting job after USC’s slow start last season, threw for 3,086 yards with 31 touchdowns and nine interceptions and led the Trojans to a heart-stopping Rose Bowl victory over Penn State, regresses this season.
Because of that, and because Darnold could be a top pick, Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell does not envision a scenario where Darnold would return to school.
It could be as easy as these questions: Why would he? What’s left to do there? Even if he’s not completely polished and ready, why take the risk?
“He has to go if he’s the No. 1 pick or a top-five pick,” Farrell said. “I know there are insurance policies, but coming back and risking injury or risking your stock falling, it’s just not worth it with so much money at stake. I kind of respect it, and there have been examples of players who would have been No. 1 if they turned pro who stayed and remained No. 1, but there are too many examples of players who stayed an extra year or played an extra game and it really just killed their stock.
“If I’m Darnold, I love the fact that he’s talking about staying and maturing and getting an education, but there’s no way on earth I’d risk that. How much guaranteed money did (Jared) Goff get in his first contract? Enough for the rest of his life.”
Being a team player is commendable. Keeping focus on the season is admirable. But there are also realistic future considerations here.
Darnold is good enough to be a starting NFL quarterback. And, like Ortiz said, it’s hard to turn down that opportunity.
“If you’re one of the top guys it’s hard to say no,” Ortiz said. “Sam is the one going through this experience.
“I’ve never told a player where to go to school. They’re the ones who have to be there and go through the grind and live in the dorms, and it’s the same with Sam.
“His goal is to one day play in the NFL. He’s off to a great start, but he still has some room to grow and work to do and I know he’s excited about the upcoming season.”
Despite all the chatter, it could be his last wearing Cardinal and Gold.
