2018 NFL Draft QB stock report – Week 6: What’s wrong with Sam Darnold?
By Conor Dorney
![PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins passes as Dante Wigley #4 of the Colorado Buffaloes defends during the first half of a game at the Rose Bowl on September 30, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins passes as Dante Wigley #4 of the Colorado Buffaloes defends during the first half of a game at the Rose Bowl on September 30, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/f98337694aca9fa6fa656e880abf311696a47aaa4255d7e4f0c0cc1c11917389.jpg)
Sam Darnold
QB, USC
![](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fncaa%2Fusc.png)
After debuting on our list at number one last week, Darnold falls all the way to the fifth spot for a number of reasons. For starters, Darnold struggled mightily on the national stage in last Friday’s road contest against No. 16 Washington State, falling to the Luke Falk-led Cougars by a score of 30-27. The redshirt sophomore Darnold ended the day with a paltry 15 for 29 line with 164 yards and one interception.
Although he did add two rushing touchdowns, Darnold struggled in pretty much every area and certainly didn’t look like a player worthy of the number one overall selection in next April’s draft. Injuries mounted up on the offensive side of the ball throughout the game, but Darnold’s accuracy and decision-making were inconsistent throughout, and culminated in a strip sack and lost a fumble that sealed the win for the Cougars.
Finally, there are already reports suggesting that Darnold may not be a part of the 2018 class, to begin with.
Keep hearing from scouts who've made USC school calls that Darnold is going to stay in school
— Greg Gabriel (@ggabefootball) October 2, 2017
It’s pretty apparent that Darnold is a quarterback who just may need a bit more seasoning before he’s ready to be a starting quarterback in the NFL, but the sophomore will still be one to watch for scouts as the Trojans look to march toward a Pac-12 title.