Robert Woods is a top five receiver prospect. (USA Today Sports Images)
NEPD Staff Writer: Dan Hope
The situation facing the USC Trojans in Monday’s Sun Bowl isn’t what they had planned for this year’s college football season. Instead of playing in the BCS National Championship Game as many had predicted they would, the 7-5 Trojans will be playing one week earlier on New Year’s Eve, and it will be without senior quarterback Matt Barkley, who will miss out on playing in his final collegiate game due to a shoulder injury.
For draftniks, not being able to watch Barkley is a disappointment, as he is in the mix to be one of the top quarterbacks drafted in a wide-open 2013 NFL draft class that lacks an elite quarterback prospect. Even without Barkley, however, this game has some draft prospects well worth watching, including some at positions the New England Patriots will likely be targeting this April.
