University Southern California Trojans
Players Mentioned
QB
/ FootballSam Darnold with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell
Sam Darnold Picked No. 3 In 2018 NFL Draft By New York Jets
April 26, 2018 | Football, Features
He is USC’s highest NFL pick since 2006 and highest drafted USC quarterback since 2003.
USC redshirt sophomore quarterback Sam Darnold was selected by the New York Jets as the No. 3 pick in the first round of the NFL Draft today (April 26).
Â
He is USC's 81st first rounder and 502nd NFL Draft selection, both the most of any school. He continues Troy's streak of having a draftee every year since 1939.
Â
Darnold is USC's highest NFL pick since Reggie Bush went No. 2 in 2006 and the highest drafted USC quarterback since Carson Palmer was No. 1 in 2003. He is the first Trojan drafted by the Jets since Leonard Williams was the sixth pick in 2015.
Â
Darnold is USC's 11th quarterback taken in the first round and the first since Mark Sanchez in 2009 (also by the Jets). USC's last 7 primary starting quarterbacks have been drafted. Over the past 30 years, 13 Trojan quarterbacks have been drafted.Â
Â
Darnold was a 2-year starter who went 20-4 while leading USC to a Rose Bowl win in 2016 and a Pac-12 championship in 2017. He completed 64.9% of his career passes for 7,229 yards and 57 touchdowns. Last year, he set school season records for passing yards (4,143, the first Trojan 4,000-yard signalcaller) and total offense (4,225 yards), as well as most 200-yard (13) and 300-yard (8) passing outings. He threw 26 TDs in 2017 when he was an All-Pac-12 first team choice.Â
Â
Â
He is USC's 81st first rounder and 502nd NFL Draft selection, both the most of any school. He continues Troy's streak of having a draftee every year since 1939.
Â
Darnold is USC's highest NFL pick since Reggie Bush went No. 2 in 2006 and the highest drafted USC quarterback since Carson Palmer was No. 1 in 2003. He is the first Trojan drafted by the Jets since Leonard Williams was the sixth pick in 2015.
Â
Darnold is USC's 11th quarterback taken in the first round and the first since Mark Sanchez in 2009 (also by the Jets). USC's last 7 primary starting quarterbacks have been drafted. Over the past 30 years, 13 Trojan quarterbacks have been drafted.Â
Â
Darnold was a 2-year starter who went 20-4 while leading USC to a Rose Bowl win in 2016 and a Pac-12 championship in 2017. He completed 64.9% of his career passes for 7,229 yards and 57 touchdowns. Last year, he set school season records for passing yards (4,143, the first Trojan 4,000-yard signalcaller) and total offense (4,225 yards), as well as most 200-yard (13) and 300-yard (8) passing outings. He threw 26 TDs in 2017 when he was an All-Pac-12 first team choice.Â
Â
USC DC Gary Patterson | Introductory Press Conference 1.28.26
Wednesday, January 28
The Time Is Now
Monday, January 26
Every Sack of the 2025 USC Football Season
Tuesday, January 06
Every Touchdown of the 2025 USC Football Season
Thursday, January 01
