COMMENTARY

By Matt Hayes

updated 8:54 p.m. ET July 15, 2004

USC begins its national title defense in less than three weeks, but All-American quarterback Matt Leinart just gave the Trojans security into 2005.

One of college football's best players and one of the NFL's top draft prospects, Leinart told the Sporting News on Tuesday that he will pass up potential millions and stay in school through his senior season in 2005. A junior, Leinart last year led the Trojans to their first national title since 1978, and finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

"I haven't really said anything, but mark it down — I'm staying all five years," Leinart says. "I'm not going to change my mind. Why would I want to leave what we have here? The NFL will always be there; my life as a college student won't. I want to soak it all in because there are only so many games in a career and so many chances to run out of that tunnel at the (Los Angeles) Coliseum."

Leinart was eligible for last year's draft as a third-year sophomore, and likely would've been selected in the late first or early second rounds. Should he continue to progress at his current pace, he could be a top 10 pick next April. The War Room NFL scouting service lists Leinart behind Arizona State's Andrew Walter as the top quarterback on next spring's draft board. Leinart could vault past Walter — and into the top five picks — with another big season.

Leinart followed 2002 USC Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer last year and led the Trojans to a 12-1 record and a share of the national title. The Trojans begin this season Aug. 28 against Virginia Tech in the Black Coaches Association Kickoff Classic at FedEx Field outside Washington D.C. That game can reintroduce Leinart and the Trojans to the country.

"There's still that West Coast bias that every team from the Pac-10 has to deal with," Leinart says. "But this is our chance, against a high-caliber program like Virginia Tech, to show everyone on the East Coast what kind of football we play."

USC began last season with a big win at Auburn, a game in which Leinart's first career throw was a touchdown pass to Mike Williams. He finished with 3,556 yards and 38 touchdowns — numbers similar to Palmer's Heisman season (3,942 yards, 32 touchdowns).

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