Matt Barkley led the first-unit offense in last night's scrimmage alongside two players who are a stunning six years his elder.
Sixth-year lineman Jeff Byers protected the quarterback on the offensive line and sixth-year safety Josh Pinkard was facing the 18-year-old freshman across the line of scrimmage. When the two super-super-seniors were in their first seasons at USC -- playing for the 2004 national title in the Orange Bowl against Oklahoma -- Barkley was in eighth grade.
Yes, that's eighth grade, while Pinkard was recording two tackles and recovering a fumble to set up a touchdown and Byers was logging plenty of snaps en route to a 55-19 national title-clinching victory against the Sooners.
Both Pinkard and Byers played in all 13 games as freshmen in 2004. Meanwhile, Barkley started as a quarterback and safety for the Mission Viejo Cowboys, a Junior All-American team that made it to the semifinals of the L.A. and Orange County area.
"That's crazy," Barkley said of the age gap.
University Southern California Trojans
Tuesday, August 18
Tuesday, August 18
Tuesday, August 18
Tuesday, August 18
