Upon being hired as USC’s head coach, Lane Kiffin made it clear that every position on the depth chart was up for grabs. Including the quarterback position.
While it remains to be seen whether or not today’s spring game will mean anything in the long run when it comes to who ends up under center, Mitch Mustain certainly fired a statistical shot across the depth-chart bow.
Mustain threw for 299 yards and five touchdowns during the spring finale, while presumptive starter Matt Barkley left the “game” in the third quarter after banging his hand on a teammate’s helmet. Before the injury, the sophomore had completed less than 50 percent of his 16 passes for 87 yards.
Running back Dillon Baxter -- aka the next Reggie Bush -- continued a very strong spring as the freshman rushed for 129 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, including a 57-yard touchdown run that -- based on the descriptions from the media -- will be another YouTube highlight in the very near future.
We have not seen any quotes from Kiffin or any other member of the coaching staff as of yet regarding what Mustain’s performance in a single scrimmage may or may not do to the battle for the starting QB job.
Given Barkley’s performance throughout the whole of spring practice -- he’s generally impressed and finished the sessions with zero interceptions -- it would be a surprise if Mustain’s out-of-nowhere performance causes the needle to move even a little; then again, this is a head coach who doesn’t seem to carry on the same bromance with the young QB that his predecessor did, so who knows.