Mustain should think it over
Word on Trousdale is that former Arkansas quarterback Mitch Mustain has been roaming campus with his old college teammate and new USC wide receiver Damian Williams.
It looks like Mustain, who has been spotted touring the campus and sitting in on Williams' classes, will end up transferring to USC in the fall.
And if that happens, Mustain's arrival would set the stage for what could be an extremely competitive quarterback battle next spring (yeah, we think ahead here).
Mustain was widely thought to be the best high school quarterback recruit in the nation in 2005 and was even named offensive player of the year by USA Today.
And that was before he enrolled at Arkansas and led the Razorbacks to seven-straight wins as the team's starter through most of the season.
If he becomes a Trojan, Mustain will enter next spring's practices after the departure of current starter John David Booty and would be in competition with now-redshirt sophomore Mark Sanchez, who was also widely considered the top high school quarterback recruit in the nation in his senior season.
While the main battle would be between Sanchez and Mustain, also competing would be speedy freshman Aaron Corp, who led Orange Lutheran High School to California's Division II championship, and possibly sophomore Garrett Green, who may compete at quarterback after moving over to safety last season.
There is no doubt Mustain's arrival would be welcomed by the talent vacuum that is USC football, and there is no question that USC coaches think that only good could come from heating up a position battle with the addition of another top athlete, but should Mustain even have to duke it out at USC?
The answer is no.
First of all, Mustain shouldn't even be in this situation and wouldn't be if it weren't for some horribly confusing, emotional and immature decisions made by a coaching staff full of hogs (it's a long story).
Secondly, no matter how you feel about the Trojans getting yet another top quarterback, this is probably not the best decision for Mustain.
Next spring was supposed to belong to Sanchez, who many still believe should have won USC's starting job last season.
Adding Mustain would only put one of the two great players in a losing position.
Sure, competition is good and it's certain that coaches have stressed to Mustain the benefits of battling against USC's other top athletes (Mustain even told the Los Angeles Times that he was impressed with the success of USC's backups, no doubt a reference to Patriots backup and former USC benchwarmer Matt Cassel) but what happens to Mitch Mustain if he loses the battle to
Mark Sanchez?
Will he have to eventually hope he becomes a miraculous seventh-round-draft-pick-turned-NFL-backup?
Mustain is certainly wanted here, let's make that clear. No one is complaining for USC's sake, but the worry here is not for USC, it's for Mustain and his future.
Mustain should hook up with another football powerhouse, one where he'll have a more certain chance at a starting job and a shining career, rather than possibly losing his opportunity to Sanchez next spring.
And although USC coaches have regularly attracted prospects with the idea of competition - that good old "you have to be willing to compete against the best" kind of speech - it might be better to be more clear with Mustain.
Sure, the competition will be "open," but how open was it for Sanchez last year against John David Booty's tenure in the program?
It's not certain one way or another what will happen to Mustain if he comes to USC.
But after being such a quality high school recruit and a proven leader at Arkansas with so much potential, it'd be better to have a certain chance at starting than to be at USC with no certainty at all.
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