Our countdown to kickoff series has been looking at notable USC players to wear each number from zero through 99. But where do those players rank among all-time college football greats?
In a recent story, ESPN’s college football writers selected the sport’s greatest player to ever wear each number. For number 3, they had USC Heisman Trophy quarterback Carson Palmer.
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“Perhaps no player did more to rekindle USC’s tradition of excellence in the early 2000s than Palmer, who began his career under flagging Paul Hackett, but alongside new head coach Pete Carroll in 2001 and 2002 began the Trojans‘ renaissance,” ESPN wrote. “In 2002, he set school records for completions (309), passing yards (3,942) and touchdowns (33) en route to an 11-win campaign — USC’s first in 23 years — and the Heisman Trophy. Palmer went on to become the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, setting the foundation for USC to become QBU in the years that followed.”
Despite arriving at USC as a highly-touted recruit, Palmer’s first four seasons with the Trojans were defined by injuries and inconsistency. As a redshirt senior in 2002, however, Palmer finally broke out. Working with Carroll and offensive coordinator Norm Chow, Palmer set USC and Pac-10 passing records, throwing for 3,942 yards and 33 touchdowns. In addition to leading the Trojans to an 11-2 record and an Orange Bowl victory over Iowa, Palmer became USC’s fifth Heisman Trophy winner, and the first Trojans quarterback to win the award.
Palmer is widely credited with starting a legendary run of USC quarterbacks. Prior to his arrival, the Trojans program was mostly known for its running backs, and had never truly had a star at QB. Following Palmer, however, USC has gone on run of quarterbacks that has included Matt Leinart, John David Booty, Mark Sanchez. Matt Barkley, Cody Kessler, Sam Darnold, and Caleb Williams.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: ESPN ranks Carson Palmer as greatest college football player to wear 3
