How Matt Barkley's year impacts his NFL draft fate

• Had Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley entered the NFL draft last spring after his junior season, he likely would have been the third quarterback selected in a year when Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III
• Barkley returned for his senior season and was considered the favorite for the Heisman Trophy
• That never happened and after a disappointing 7-5 season that ends with the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31, Barkley's NFL draft destiny has changed

Had Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley entered the NFL draft last spring after his junior season, he likely would have been the third quarterback selected in a year when Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III were taken with the top two picks. Instead, Barkley returned for his senior season and was considered the favorite for the Heisman Trophy on a team with national title aspirations.

The season was a disappointment as the Trojans went 7-5, and Barkley's last game will be the Sun Bowl against Georgia Tech on Dec. 31. What will that mean for his draft position? USA TODAY Sports Weekly asked Ourlads' NFL Scouting Service to break down

Barkley's prospects:

Despite Matt Barkley's perceived and actual struggles in 2012, he remains the most NFL-prepared product of the quarterbacks expected to be available in the NFL draft.

It's doubtful he will be the top selection, but he more than likely will fall in the No.8 to 15 area. It is early in the process with the NFL scouting combine, pro days and individual workouts to come.

When it comes to the draft, quarterbacks all get pushed up. All bets are off if a team that needs a quarterback falls in love with his intangibles and skill level.

In reviewing Barkley's season, it started well. He was a combined 46-for-68 with 10 touchdown passes in wins against Hawaii and Syracuse.

Center Khaled Holmes was injured and didn't play against Stanford in the third game, and Barkley was sacked four times and completed 20 of 41 passes with two interceptions and no touchdowns. He had passed for at least one touchdown in 34 of 38 games. Coach Lane Kiffin said he called plays poorly in the Stanford loss, trying to get the ball to his explosive outside weapons instead of being patient in mixing in the run game.

Barkley didn't make excuses. He went about being his usual consistent self after the 21-14 Stanford loss and engineered four consecutive wins.

Barkley's consistency and rhythm passing were challenged over the last four games, though he threw for more than 480 yards and completed better than 63% of his passes against both Arizona and Oregon. The only consistency was the breakdowns on offense — penalties in key down-and-distance situations, receivers running wrong routes and dropping passes, poor special-teams play and several defensive lapses.

Barkley would be the first to tell you he threw nine of his 15 interceptions in the last four games. Eerily similar to his high school trend, Barkley threw twice as many interceptions (15) as a senior as he did as a junior (seven) at USC. His touchdown passes dropped from 39 in 2011 to 36 in 2012 with one game remaining.

His mid- to late-season scouting report reads similar to the report from his junior year, when he threw for four touchdowns in five games and passed for more than 300 yards six times:

"Good command of the Trojans' pro-style offense that features bubble screens, play-action and drop-back passes. Outstanding touch and anticipation, especially on fade and spot passes. Timing is crisp with receivers Marquise Lee, Robert Woods and freshman Nelson Agholor. He gives his wide receivers, backs and tight ends a chance to run after the catch with the ball. Accurate outside the pocket throwing the ball on the run, rolling out right or left. Throws the swing passes and check-downs like he was born to do it.

"He holds the ball high and is fundamentally sound, releasing a pass with a quick, compact arm. Good ball placement on out routes, slip screens and slants. He has good footwork and balance in his variety of throws left, right and dropping back. Effective selling the play-action, bootleg and waggle-type passes. One of the few quarterbacks who gets work under center and in the shotgun formation. Appears comfortable and poised doing either. Alert and consistent in the pocket or on the move.

"He holds the ball until the last minute on screens and is patient enough to let the play develop. In the Pac-12, a quarterback sees a lot of press man coverage, and over four years Barkley has developed rare touch and feel for the route adjustments. His arm strength is underrated. He snaps the ball out where it needs to go. Good zip on deep outs. He is a disciplined ball-control passer who can see the field and sidestep a pass rush or step up into the void and follow through to his target. Possesses very good pocket presence and movement skills to make plays or elude a blitz.

"He has been well-coached with a no-huddle offense to change the field tempo. Uses his eyes to move the safeties. Pump-fakes and shoulder-shakes to freeze the defenders. He has good hands fielding shotgun exchanges and taking field goal and PAT snaps for placement. Barkley has above-average measurables at 6-2, 230 pounds, runs in the 4.80 range. Has functional speed and quickness. Extremely intelligent with the ability to memorize. He can handle new situations and adjustments.

"He is a reliable game manager who keeps his cool when dealing with adversity on the field. His performance over four years has been consistent and confident. Has the ability to take the team on long drives down the field. A team leader who makes smart decisions. Can handle a large volume of offense and understands protections.

"His play the past two years helped USC overcome recruiting sanctions that hurt team depth. Lastly, Barkley is a move-the-chains quarterback who competes and elevates his play on money downs."

Dan Shonka is general manager and national scout for Ourlads' NFL Scouting Service (Ourlads.com). Ourlads.com is an affiliate of USA TODAY Sports Digital Properties.