Matt Barkley, once a top quarterback prospect whose draft stock tumbled following a subpar senior season at USC, got married on Saturday to 22-year-old Brittany Langdon.
Barkley's big day was overshadowed by the marriage of Robert Griffin III, but he was in great spirits nonetheless. On Barkley's Twitter account, he posted this message: "Wedding Day! Beyond blessed, thankful and excited to marry the girl of my dreams and my best friend. Praise the Lord!"
Two years ago, Barkley was one of the highest-rated quarterbacks expected to enter the draft, with several pundits pegging him to be taken ahead of Robert Griffin III. He decided to stay at USC for his senior year, though, and toss the pigskin for the NCAA's preseason No. 1 team.
USC struggled badly however, finishing the year with a 7-6 record, and 5-4 in the Pac-12 conference. Barkley still had a stellar statistical season, piling up 36 touchdowns and 3,273 yards through the air; he also threw a USC career-high 15 interceptions. Barkley completed 63.6 percent of his passes before getting injuring his shoulder in the Trojans' second-to-last game of the year against UCLA.
Barkley missed USC's game against Notre Dame to close out the season, as well as the Sun Bowl, which USC dropped 21-7 to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Following the game USC's locker room splintered after younger players criticized Barkley for not playing in the bowl game, as well as for his leadership during the year. The older players defended their quarterback and a skirmish broke out, symbolizing USC's season.
After all the negative publicity, the once sure-fire first-round pick fell to the fourth round where the Philadelphia Eagles snapped him up. New coach Chip Kelly is familiar with Barkley from his days coaching the Oregon Ducks, and he will now fight for a starting job with established veteran Michael Vick, and second-year passer Nick Foles.
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