Arkansas QB
Mitch Mustain, a highly touted recruit coming out of high school last year,
has decided to transfer to USC. Mustain, considered by many locals to be the best player ever to come out of Arkansas, endured through a tumultuos freshman season. Mustain had always wanted to stay home and play for his hometown team, but wavered on his verbal commitment to the Razorbacks during his recruitment and did not feel entrusted by Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt and his system. He ended up signing with Arkansas last year, but that was only after Nutt hired Mustain's high school coach, Gus Malzahn, as Arkansas' offensive coordinator, perhaps in an effort to land the highly coveted recruit and save his job.
The signing of Mustain raised morale amongst the Razorbacks fans, as the general feeling was that he would take the reigns of an offense which already featured the nation's most prolific tandem at RB in Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. However, Mustain was not named the starter for the season opening 50-14 loss at home versus USC. This angered the larger than normal crowd that filled the stadium waiting to see their local hero, but they did get a quick glimpse of what could have been a very promising future. Arkansas lost big to the Trojans that night, but fans (including many Trojans) will always remember when Mustain entered the game in the 4th Quarter (video below). Mustain came in and led the Razorbacks on a quick touchdown scoring drive, and showed his talent and proved worthy enough to be promoted as the starter.
He led Arkansas to victories in its next 8 games, but was suddenly benched by Razorbacks Coach Houston Nutt despite his 8-0 record as a starter and the team's 9-1 record and 1st place standing in the SEC. This was the beginning of the end for Mustain era at Arkansas. Houston Nutt took over the play-calling duties from Gus Malzahn, and basically abandoned the passing game towards the end of the season, often using his stud RB McFadden at QB in an unbalanced, run heavy offense. Nutt's actions caused Malzahn to leave and become offensive coordinator at Tulsa. Freshman WR Damian Williams, Mustain's high school teammate at Springdale (Ark.) High, transferred to USC and arrived this spring. It appears that the presence of Williams, along with USC's recent success with QB's, is what enticed Mustain to choose 'SC. He will now sit out the 2007 season, per NCAA rules, and then battle redshirt sophomore Mark Sanchez and incoming freshman Aaron Corp for the starting job in 2008.
Elsewhere,
TrojanNYC reports that USC recruit Dayne Crist,
has committed to Notre Dame. Crist (pictured below) is a 6'5" QB and a senior to be at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (go figure). Don't know much about this kid, but he must not want to compete against Sanchez, Mustain, and Corp when he gets here.
Fight On!
7 comments:
He's good, but I haven't seen enough of him to make me think he's that good. Everyone knows that I am super high on Sanchez because I think he has the tools to be as good as Leinart. But Sanchez has done pretty well in my book so far. About as good as any 2nd string QB can do with the second team offense. However, I can't say I like this move by Mustain. I don't quite know how he'll handle the competition. Lets just hope he doesn't become the poison he was at Arkansas.
Mustain should add depth to an already solid crop of quarterbacks for next season. About this Crist guy, I for one am glad this douchebag isn't coming here. Anyone who looks like that shouldn't have been allowed to take his first breath out of the womb, much less enroll at USC. Fuck that guy. I wish him a career full of injuries and mediocrity at ND.
The only poison at Arkansas was Houston Nutt, how can a team as loaded as Arkansas fail to produce better results. Sanchez hasn't gotten any playing time so the jury is still out on him. Mustain will run the scout team offense this fall which should prepare him well to compete for the starting job in 2008.
Don't blame Crist for going to Notre Dame. Who the fuck wants to wait behind Mustain, Sanchez, Corp, and the next 2 5-star QB's that carroll is gonna bring in. Now I know what you are thinking, "If he doesn't want to compete, then USC doesn't want him." Well, my answer is that its different with QB's because they can compete and never see the field. WR's and athletes can compete, but always can get on the field because of their versatility via special teams or whatever. If Crist doesn't work out at QB, he is fucked. If Rojo doesn't workout well at WR, he'll workout at DB, punt returner,special teams, or tailback. See the difference.
Just look at the guy's picture, that's why I posted it. Can't wait to hate on him and Claussen, the way I hated on Cal's DeSean Jackson for not choosing the right school. Rudy Sucks and so does ND (except Zbikowski).
you guys are brutal. I'm glad i'm on your side. ;-)
I'm glad Rey Mauluaga is on our side....
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