^UPDATE: Barkley won't throw at the combine

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Matt Barkley was part of a disappointing USC Trojans team this year but the quarterback does not believe that should reflect negatively on his NFL future. Barkley suffered a shoulder injury in a loss to UCLA that caused him to miss games against Notre Dame and Georgia Tech. Barkley was not exactly the picture of quarterback efficiency this season throwing 15 interceptions. While Barkley will attend the NFL combine in Indianapolis he will not do any throwing. He will throw at a pro day on USC’s campus with Robert Woods sometime before the April draft. “It seems to be the trend not to (throw at the combine), and I don’t feel that I have to,” Barkley said Friday on “The Herd” on ESPN Radio. “I haven’t lost any confidence in myself and haven’t doubted my ability to play quarterback, not once.” Barkley was projected to be a first round player last season but opted to return to USC for his senior season. With USC entering the year ranked No. 1 Barkley was an early favorite for the Heisman.

Original Story: http://tireball.com/ncaafb/2013/02/01...

[NYSR2]

This is a very tough guy to get a read on.

[Reg]

Barkley: 'The biggest test of my life'

08:04 AM ET 02.11 | For 22-year-old Matt Barkley, the countdown is on. [Barkley] knows his future in football will be shaped from evaluation at the upcoming NFL Combine. "This is probably the biggest test of my life coming up," said Barkley, the heralded Southern California quarterback, who visited Northwest Florida for the first time Friday to receive the Danny Wuerffel Trophy at the 44th All Sports Association Awards. "This is like the SAT (college entrance exam) times thousands," said Barkley, during a reception at the Emerald Grande in Destin prior to the banquet at the Emerald Coast Convention Center. "I hear the whole couple days is a grind. But I am looking forward to that challenge. I am excited about it."

PNJ.com

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07:59 AM ET 02.13 | The top two QB prospects this time last year -- Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III -- chose not to throw at the NFL Scouting Combine. Both quarterbacks were locked into the top two slots of the draft. They preferred to throw to receivers they knew in a more comfortable environment. So that's what they did. Don't expect a similar situation to play out with this year's (far less celebrated) quarterback class. Case in point [via @Gil_Brandt on Twitter]: "Spoke w/ Geno Smith's rep, Jeff Nalley. Says Geno will do full workout at #NFLCombine. Good sign. Usually when one jumps in, others follow." It's also been reported that USC's Matt Barkley will throw. If the top quarterbacks in this class both go full workout, others at the position will surely follow.

NFL.com

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Why Barkley won't throw at the combine

08:37 AM ET 02.18 | So much for "the biggest test" of his young life. The separated shoulder USC quarterback Matt Barkley suffered last season will prevent him from throwing at this week's scouting combine in Indianapolis, according to league sources. Barkley still might decide to run and jump for NFL teams, but he will not throw, sources said. Teams wanted to watch Barkley throw to help determine whether he would be the top quarterback selected in April's draft. They -- and the pecking order for quarterbacks in this draft -- now will have to wait. If his decision confuses some, it shouldn't. When Barkley described the combine as a milestone moment in his career, he actually meant having the doctors clear him on his physicals.

ESPN.com