Mustain Goes to USC

[Water Pony]

Mustain Transfers From Arkansas to USC

LOS ANGELES — Quarterback Mitch Mustain, who went 8-0 as a freshman starter last season for Arkansas, has transferred to Southern California.

Mustain, who will have three years of eligibility remaining after sitting out next season, is enrolled at USC for summer school and attending classes, sports information director Tim Tessalone confirmed Monday.


The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Mustain was a prized recruit after completing over 70 percent of his passes in 2005 for the undefeated state championship team at Springdale, Ark. He enrolled at Arkansas along with three of his high school teammates.

In addition, Springdale coach Gus Malzahn was hired as the Razorbacks' offensive coordinator.

After Arkansas lost to USC 50-14 to begin last season, Mustain was made the starter. The Razorbacks won their next eight games with an offense that revolved around tailback Darren McFadden, the Heisman Trophy runner-up.

Casey [deleted] took over as the starting quarterback in the season's 10th game. Mustain and [deleted] both played in the Razorbacks' 17-14 loss to Wisconsin in the Capital One Bowl.

Arkansas, the SEC West champion, finished the season 10-4 and ranked 15th in the nation. Malzahn left afterward to join the coaching staff at Tulsa, and Mustain asked for and received his release to transfer.

Mustain completed 69 of 132 passes for 894 yards and 10 touchdowns with nine interceptions for the Razorbacks.

Wide receiver Damian Williams, also from Springdale, transferred from Arkansas to USC as well. Williams will also have three years of eligibility remaining after sitting out next season.

Mustain is expected to compete for the starting quarterback position in 2008 with Mark Sanchez, who completed 3-of-7 passes for 63 yards for USC as a freshman last fall. John David Booty, who passed for 3,347 yards and 29 touchdowns for the Trojans last season, will be a senior next year.

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May 21, 2007 - 7:37 p.m. CDT

[OC Mustang]

I saw Sanchez play in high school. Based on my observation of Arkansas ball, I think Sanchez is better, IMHO.

And I am positive that Sanchez's mom isn't a headcase.

[Stallion]

yeah well Craig James was better than Eric Dickerson as a freshman. Things change.

[OC Mustang]

yeah well Craig James was better than Eric Dickerson as a freshman. Things change.

No he wasn't.

And my money is on the likelihood that the headcase stays a headcase.

[jtstang]

Charles Waggoner was better than both of them for about two or so games until his careeer was ended.

[Arkpony]

jstang is right! We would sit in the stands watching the three of them and everyone agreeed Waggoner looked the best. He and Dickerson were both injured on a kickoff return and Waggoner never played another down.

[OC Mustang]

the headcase will remain a headcase...and Pete Carroll will rue the day.

[Stallion]

All I'm saying is that it ain't a piece of cake jumping from Spingdale High Gobblers in front of friends and family into a starting SEC QB role playing in front of 90,000 plus before the Fall semester opens. The kid struggled but he put up decent numbers and was 8-0 as a starter. He didn't get that redshirt year and anybody discounting him based on the life of a freshman SEC starting QB may look silly after a couple of years experience. With the coaching he'll get at USC I have a feeling he will excell.

And both James and Waggoner were far better players than Dickerson who got spooked after an opening game nice effort against a pretty bad Rice team. Big junp from 2A to the SWC in those days. Waggoner and James were both 5A players(4A at the time) who were much better prepared to play. Dickerson had to learn to adjust.

[George S. Patton]

This whole Mustain episode is in a list of athletes with a sense of entitlement and being minded by overbearing parents.

I think it's an either/or situation for him. He's either going to be in the class of Carson Palmer or just become another Jevan Sneed whose actions off the field earned more attention than what he does on it.

[OC Mustang]

Speaking of headcases...

[OC Mustang]

All I'm saying is that it ain't a piece of cake jumping from Spingdale High Gobblers in front of friends and family into a starting SEC QB role playing in front of 90,000 plus before the Fall semester opens. The kid struggled but he put up decent numbers and was 8-0 as a starter. He didn't get that redshirt year and anybody discounting him based on the life of a freshman SEC starting QB may look silly after a couple of years experience. With the coaching he'll get at USC I have a feeling he will excell.

Point taken...

[PonySoprano]

All I'm saying is that it ain't a piece of cake jumping from Spingdale High Gobblers in front of friends and family into a starting SEC QB role playing in front of 90,000 plus before the Fall semester opens. The kid struggled but he put up decent numbers and was 8-0 as a starter. He didn't get that redshirt year and anybody discounting him based on the life of a freshman SEC starting QB may look silly after a couple of years experience. With the coaching he'll get at USC I have a feeling he will excell.

The main reason he was 8-0 as a starter last year is because Darren McFadden carried that offense, especially the second half of the season. The entire offense went through McFadden.

[SMUtrojanFAN]

All I'm saying is that it ain't a piece of cake jumping from Spingdale High Gobblers in front of friends and family into a starting SEC QB role playing in front of 90,000 plus before the Fall semester opens. The kid struggled but he put up decent numbers and was 8-0 as a starter. He didn't get that redshirt year and anybody discounting him based on the life of a freshman SEC starting QB may look silly after a couple of years experience. With the coaching he'll get at USC I have a feeling he will excell.

If he's so great, why did he get benched? Maybe I'm missing something, but I have a feeling he will play back-up for his three years of eligibility.

I think it's an either/or situation for him. He's either going to be in the class of Carson Palmer or just become another Jevan Sneed whose actions off the field earned more attention than what he does on it.

Great point. Not even Stallion can predict the future (or can he now?).

[OC Mustang]

I think it's an either/or situation for him. He's either going to be in the class of Carson Palmer or just become another Jevan Sneed whose actions off the field earned more attention than what he does on it.

Great point. Not even Stallion can predict the future (or can he now?).

I can predict the future. He rides bench (I made a funny!) and the headcase goes to the tabloids with "injustice".

[SMUtrojanFAN]

I think it's an either/or situation for him. He's either going to be in the class of Carson Palmer or just become another Jevan Sneed whose actions off the field earned more attention than what he does on it.

Great point. Not even Stallion can predict the future (or can he now?).

I can predict the future. He rides bench (I made a funny!) and the headcase goes to the tabloids with "injustice".

Ha - the LA media will eat her for breakfast. Things are a little different around South Central than they are in Fayetteville.