When one of the most prolific quarterbacks in NCAA history decides to return for senior year, good things tend to happen.
Unless your last name is Leinart.
On Saturday, Matt Leinart, the poster boy for staying in school, became the 10th overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.
Tenth, after NFL analysts projected him to be last year’s No. 1 overall pick. Again, last year’s.
Let’s imagine for a second what life would have been like for Leinart if he had gone pro after the 2004-05 season.
Along with potentially occupying the No. 1 spot in the draft, Leinart would have been leaving USC with a Heisman Memorial Trophy in one hand, and the Sears Trophy in the other – two pieces of hardware he wouldn’t have to see others beat him to this season.
Arguably the best quarterback in NCAA history, the pride of Santa Ana, Calif., would be headed to San Francisco to play for the 49ers with his new celebrity status in his handbag, and Nick Lachey’s phone number in his Blackberry.
Yup, life would have been good for Matt Leinart.
Instead, he did the “right thing.” He took the path less followed.
Leinart fine-tuned his skills, graduated from college and watched as nine other players and millions of dollars passed by him in the draft.
A year and change after hearing Leinart pledge to spend 2005 at USC, the question still remains: Did Matt Leinart make the right decision?
Yes folks, he did.
It may be hard for both him and you to realize this, but in time, you will.
This year, Leinart may not be as financially stable as hoped to be, but he will be the face of an up-and-coming franchise in Arizona. He’ll easily be starting under center by midseason given his talent and ensuing popularity with fans. What’s more, he’ll be helping his teammates break in a new stadium.
Once Leinart passes up Kurt Warner on the depth chart, he’ll be throwing to talented wideouts who’ll help him mature in the NFL.
Those wideouts are Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, who have had tremendous production despite being in the league for a combined five seasons.
He’ll also be playing in a balanced offense centered on – not him – newly acquired running back Edgerrin James. Leinart played in a similar scheme both at USC and at Mater Dei High School.
If Leinart had gone to the 49ers in last year’s draft, he’d still be buffing cleat marks out of his helmet after spending an entire season running for his life behind a sub-par offensive line.
Instead he’s healthy and at his optimum skill level with five years of college ball behind him.
He could not be more ready for the NFL, and he could not have made a better decision in 2005.

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