Will USC moving to the Big Ten break their quarterback curse?
Could USC be ready to finally snap its quarterback curse? One famed offensive guru and former NFL head coach thinks so. And he says it has nothing to do with USC’s looming move to the Big Ten.
For a program as storied as USC, the program’s difficulty in sending quarterbacks to the next level is puzzling. A move to the Big Ten, may not change that.
June Jones, a former NFL head coach and college coach, is one of the most brilliant minds in football as the creator of the ‘run and shoot offense.’ He says USC is set to start producing top-tier quarterbacks once again.
“The Big Ten move will not help them be better quarterbacks but the hiring of Lincoln Riley will help,” Jones told RutgersWire this week.
“He is a quarterback guy.”
USC has had success in winning games…and bowl games…over the past two decades behind some pretty good collegiate quarterbacks such as Carson Palmer, Matt Leinhart, Mark Sanchez and Sam Darnold. But none of those four – all first round picks – came close to living up to expectations.
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Palmer came close, but despite being an All-Pro and three times a Pro Bowl pick, was nowhere near the output or success expected of a top overall pick or a former Heisman winner. Darnold is in the league but the former third overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft has had some pretty pedestrian seasons throughout his career.
All that could change now for USC. Just in time for a move to the Big Ten.
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Riley has a tremendous track record of not just developing college quarterbacks, but getting them ready for the NFL. The likes of Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts all passed through Norman during Riley’s time as head coach at Oklahoma. Both are entrenched as starters in the league.
And there is Mayfield, who was just traded to the Carolina Panthers where he will compete with the aforementioned Darnold for the starting job. Mayfield will have a clear edge over Darnold, especially if he can show his 2020 form in training camp.
The Big Ten recently announced that USC and UCLA are leaving the Pac-12 and will join the Big Ten in 2024.
“The realignment including USC/UCLA will help them as it is all about money,” Jones said.
“The money will help in improving facilities as they go forward.”
Jones, who was twice an NFL head coach, also spent time as a college head coach with stops at Hawaii and SMU. He is currently offering a coaching course on CoachTube.
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The football coaching videos focus on his famed offense, an offense that formed the foundation for much of the modern game.
