By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer

When the NFL Draft begins in a little over two weeks, USC quarterback Matt Leinart is almost certain to be one of the top five picks in the draft and the first signal caller taken.

For most players, that would be an exciting thing to look forward to, but for Leinart it could be viewed as a disappointment. Had Leinart chosen to leave the Trojans after his Heisman-winning junior campaign, he almost certainly would have been the No. 1 pick in the draft instead of Utah’s Alex Smith.

Instead, Leinart chose to finish his college career and take a shot at another national championship. But that didn’t quite work itself out the way he wanted either, as USC lost a heartbreaker to Texas in the Rose Bowl.

While staying in school might have cost Leinart a few draft positions and a few million dollars, it certainly didn’t hurt his preparation for the NFL. Leinart lived like a true Hollywood celebrity in his final year in Los Angeles and got acclimated to dealing with a public eye that was always watching.

“The one thing is it was tough being in LA with all the pressure and the limelight and really being the only team there that has had success the last couple of years,” Leinart said. “I think the publicity I have gotten for going out or whatever has prepared me for the NFL just because it is the only team. No matter what happens, I have had the preparation, I’ve been there, I have seen it. I have done tons of interviews and I have seen lots happen.”

All of that publicity helped make Leinart one of the most ballyhooed college football players ever and it has plenty of NFL teams salivating for his services. Aside from the eye popping numbers, there are few quarterbacks in the league with Leinart’s winning pedigree and zero quarterbacks in the drat that have done what Leinart did for the Trojans.

In three years as the starter for USC, Leinart was 37-2 with a BCS championship, another split national title and a loss in another BCS title game. Simply put, all Leinart does is win games, lots of them.

Leinart led the Trojans through many tough situations and it is that leadership and knack for finding ways to win games that make him the top quarterback prospect in this year’s draft.

“I think my main strength is leadership and what I have done in the games in my three years,” Leinart said. “I have been winning my whole career. I lost two games by a total of six points and I think that’s the most important thing is winning. It’s kind of like the Tom Brady type.”

Leinart’s propensity to post wins has drawn plenty of comparison to New England’s Tom Brady. Brady, of course, has won three Super Bowls with the Patriots, but came with nowhere near the fanfare that Leinart brings.

Brady was selected in the sixth round, something that will not happen to Leinart. But, just because Leinart knows how to win and brings plenty of intangibles doesn’t mean he isn’t facing questions about his physical skills.

The left-handed Leinart was inconsistent with accuracy at times as a senior and some believe he doesn’t have the arm strength to make all of the necessary throws in the NFL. Others maintain that Leinart isn’t a good enough athlete to be the type of dominant quarterback he was in college at the NFL level.

Leinart chooses not to listen to any of that.

“I know a lot of people question my arm strength,” Leinart said. “I have never questioned my arm strength. I have proven in four years of playing that I am a lot more durable. People think I can’t run. Actually last year we ran the naked bootleg and completed about 85 percent of them. I’m going to go out there and have fun and move around a lot.”

During his pro day on April 2, Leinart put most of those questions to rest, displaying a strong arm and surprising athletic ability. Leinart measured in with a 37-inch vertical jump. Still, it’s hard to help but wonder what might have been had he left early. 

Last year at this time, plenty of people questioned Leinart’s decision to return to USC instead of going to the NFL. Now, it appears teammate Reggie Bush will be the top pick in the draft, but Leinart is expected to land anywhere from No. 2 to No. 4 when the time comes.

And though that isn’t quite like being the top selection, it’s fine by Leinart.

“I am going to bring my talent to play and my work ethic to an organization and help that team win whether it’s a year or two or three years,” Leinart said. “That’s my goal and that’s my mindset.”