USC's Sam Darnold calmly handles the praise and hype
LOS ANGELES — A quality first start in college wasn’t good enough for USC’s Sam Darnold, because it still resulted in a 31-27 loss to Utah.
The then-redshirt freshman took the initiative and texted Matt Leinart, USC’s Heisman Trophy winner in 2004. Leinart — who will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in December — was quick to respond.
“After that Utah loss we got the team together, with no coaches, in a meeting,” Darnold said Thursday at Pac-12 media days. “We just kind of gained trust in each other and were really honest. We had an honest conversation.”
USC began 2016 with a 1-3 record. Before Sam Darnold replaced the initial starter, Max Browne, the Trojans scored a combined one touchdown against Alabama and Stanford (USC's win came against Utah State 45-7). Leinart provided encouragement for the eager Darnold.
Leinart was right. Darnold, or “Sammy D,” as his teammates call him, guided the Trojans to nine consecutive victories — including a thrilling 52-49 Rose Bowl win.
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In a three-month span, the USC quarterback blossomed into a star. Many NFL mock drafts project Darnold as the first overall pick in 2018. He is one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy.
“I think they got the best quarterback in the nation,” Stanford coach David Shaw said of the Trojans.
Despite the popularity and hype, Darnold remains publicly humble and appears poised. The light bulb, he said, went off almost immediately for him — after his first couple of drives against Utah.
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“I’ve grown in many ways, and learning how to handle that, it’s been amazing. It’s been a journey,” Darnold said. “At the same time, with team success comes individual success. I’m not naïve to that, so we have to do well as a team.”
The self-proclaimed “quarterback nerd” said his calm demeanor stems from his support system while growing up. USC will ask for that quiet confidence out of its quarterback this season, a year the Trojans are favorites to win their conference.
“A national championship, that’s our ultimate goal,” Darnold said. “We can’t do that without winning the (Pac-12) South and winning the Pac-12.”
Although that memorable Rose Bowl lingers in most USC fans’ minds, Darnold hasn’t watched the game in a couple of months. Instead, he sought help from quarterbacks coach Jordan Palmer, who helped alter Darnold’s throwing motion over the summer.
“Probably staying patient in the pocket and not being so anxious to scramble,” Darnold said on how he can progress. “I know that’s a strength of mine, improvising sometimes. But there’s a fine line between staying in the pocket too long as well.”