Rough Draft: USC's Mark Sanchez | Sports in Stilettos

It seems as if the USC coaching staff is leaving en masse to try to bring a "W" to Washington next season, but how many members of the team will turn in their uniforms early to try to make it in the NFL?

Taylor Mays is as good as gone, as much as I'd like him to stick around, and C.J. Gable's made it pretty clear he'd rather try his luck in the pros - or anywhere else, really - rather than (not) play for SC again in '09. But the player everyone's wondering about isn't Mays; it's the team's marquee quarterback, Mark Sanchez.

Unfortunately, I have no say in the matter, but if I did, I'd say "Stay."

Yes, ok, everyone points to the example of the former-love-of-my-life Matt Leinart, and how he came back for his senior year and, as a result, might have lost $10 million after falling to the 10th pick overall. Matty L. probably wishes he had that extra $10 mil for his child support payments, although if he'd left after his junior year, he wouldn't have been hanging around L.A. knocking up his ex-girlfriend. So I can see why Mr. Sanchez might want to forego that route, and his senior year at SC.

But there are a few big differences. A national championship. A Heisman trophy. Leinart had both but decided to stick around. Sanchez has neither, but if he sticks around, he'll have a shot at both.

By the end of Leinart's junior year, he didn't have much left to accomplish. Sanchez, on the other hand, is just getting started. He had a great game in the Rose Bowl, but that was just one great game at the end of his first season as a starter. Carson Palmer, another Heisman-winning quarterback to come out of the Coliseum, could've headed for the pros after his junior year. He decided to stay, to accomplish more in his college career, and he succeeded. Sanchez has the same opportunity now.

My opinion might not mean much to Marky Mark, but I'm not the only one who thinks he would do well to lead the Trojans for one more season. Two NFL scouts told the Honolulu Advertiser that Sanchez would probably have better draft prospects if he put together an entire season of performances like the one he had last week in Pasadena. Mark, you've got a lot more to offer college football in 2009. Stick around and prove it.

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January 8, 2009 03:05 PM ET

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I dont know if Leihart got that bad of a deal.......he gets paid millions to sit on a bench ...not get injured......& wait out his time until Warner decides to go!!! his name might not be in the spotlight much.......& when he finally gets a chance to play...he's gonna have to remind some people of who he is.....but I'd take it!!!

anyways....as for Sanchez.....I would like him to stay ...but they never listen to us!!ha!!! And I didnt always want him to stay this season.....when he threw 4 interceptions in a row in 1 game....I nearly died!! But in the rose bowl he proved himself to me.....he def needs more games like that one!!

Plus....we've been spoiled since Palmer....so QB's got a lot to live up to @ SC!!

Anyways....good post!

USC-GIRL

Kalaheo, HI

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January 12, 2009 12:18 AM ET

And I didnt always want him to stay this season.....when he threw 4 interceptions in a row in 1 game....I nearly died!!

Wait a minute, you have a problem with these stats! LMAO

Mark Sanchez 2008 Stats W/L Comp/Att P.% TD/INT YDS Rating R.YDS/TD
12/1 241/366 .658 34/10 3207 164.6 16/3

The most Interceptions he had in a game was 3 against Arizone St.