• Leinart staying at USC Leinart staying at USC By Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart will be back for his senior season at Southern California and try to lead the Trojans to an unprecedented third
• Leinart staying at USC
Leinart staying at USC
By Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart will be back for his senior season at Southern California and try to lead the Trojans to an unprecedented third straight national championship.
The USC quarterback announced his decision Friday, opting to complete his eligibility rather than enter the NFL draft, where he figured to be one of the top selections and become an instant millionaire.
“I realized the opportunity right now to support my family by going to the NFL early, but to me I think college football and this whole atmosphere here and being with my fans and my teammates … is ultimately more satisfying and will make me happier than any amount of money could make someone happy,” he said.
There was a roar of approval from a crowd of about 500 students and fans jammed into the foyer at Heritage Hall to hear Leinart’s decision.
“OK, so I’m smiling,” a beaming coach Pete Carroll said after Leinart’s announcement.
Leinart has made clear for months his desire to stay in school. He said last August he would definitely return because he loved playing for the Trojans, he needed to get stronger physically and make other improvements.
More recently, he said he was leaning toward returning, but would investigate his options.
In the end, Leinart decided the risk of serious injury or a sub-par performance next season was less important than following his heart and enjoying college for another year.
Leinart consulted coaches, friends, teammates, NFL quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Ben Roethlisberger and his parents. The 21-year-old said he didn’t come to a final decision until Friday.
A 6-foot-5, 225-pound left-hander, Leinart was a third-year sophomore who hadn’t thrown a pass for the Trojans when he succeeded Palmer, another Heisman Trophy winner, as USC’s starting quarterback 16 1/2 months ago.
The Trojans have a 25-1 record with Leinart at the controls — including 13-0 this season. He capped the year by passing for 332 yards and an Orange Bowl-record five touchdowns in USC’s resounding 55-19 victory over Oklahoma on Jan. 4.
Leinart’s 6,878 career passing yards rank fourth on the school’s career list, and his 71 TD passes rank second — one behind Palmer.
All that in just 26 games.
Two other USC juniors, linebacker Lofa Tatupu and punter Tom Malone, also announced decisions on their futures. Tatupu said he is making himself eligible for the NFL draft, while Malone said he will return to USC.
By staying in school, Leinart could become the second player to win the Heisman twice. Ohio State running back Archie Griffin accomplished the feat in 1974-75.
He also becomes the second straight Heisman winner to play another year of college football. Oklahoma’s Jason White won college football’s most prestigious award in 2003, then finished third in the 2004 balloting.
USC’s only loss in the last two seasons was a 34-31 triple overtime setback at California on Sept. 27, 2003, in Leinart’s fourth game as the Trojans’ quarterback.
