Matt Barkley is likely to leave the USC Trojans after his fall season and declare for the 2012 NFL Draft, regardless of what head coach Lane Kiffin wants him to do or not. That's why the interest in the backup quarterback position becomes quite salient for Trojans fans, because the winner is likely to be the starter for the near future, while the other two might have to start wondering about whether they'll ever get a chance to play (a la Aaron Corp or Mitch Mustain).
Redshirt freshman Jesse Scroggins had the early lead over true freshmen Max Wittek and Cody Kessler, at least through the spring, but that could be changing now that fall camp has started. Scott Wolf of Inside USC tweeted that Kiffin believes that the gap is closing between the three, and that Wittek has made rapid physical developments. In many ways, the backup QB position at USC could be of more interest to the future of the Pac-12 than any other current starting position battle.
Here are their high school recruiting tapes. First Scroggins.
(via RedshirtScouting)
Then Wittek.
(via OrangeCountySports)
And [some highlights of] Kessler.
Cody Kessler Week 1 Highlights Vs. Redwood (via highlightsvideopro)
Who do you think will win the backup position?
For more on USC fall practice, Conquest Chronicles is the place.