Mustain still has a promising career as a Ralph Fiennes look-alike.

physically against "live bullets". He's listed at 6'4 195 and is known to like to take off and try and make plays with his feet.

But Barkley might have leapfrogged Mustain for #2.

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USC FOOTBALL
Matt Barkley more than holding his own at USC
Kirby Lee / US Presswire
By Gary Klein
April 10, 2009

Matt Barkley might not emerge as USC's starting quarterback, but as the competition moves past the midpoint in spring practice it is clear the freshman will contend to the end.

On Thursday, Barkley had perhaps his most solid workout to date. He completed nearly every throw during seven-on-seven drills and during a team scrimmage period that was heavy on situational third-down plays.

"I feel comfortable right now," said Barkley, who avoided committing a turnover for the second consecutive workout.

As a freshman, coaches thought Barkley's greatest challenge would be handling the increased amount of terminology, plays and responsibilities that are added as workouts progress.

But the former four-year starter at Santa Ana Mater Dei High has not been burdened.

"He's having a pretty good go at it," Coach Pete Carroll said. "He's not getting bogged down by the installation or by the terminology.

"He just has an aptitude that's giving him a chance to compete. He has not taken a step backwards at any time. And normally the freshman guys do."

Third-year sophomore Aaron Corp, however, has taken advantage of his experience in the program to remain the leader in the competition to replace Mark Sanchez.

Junior Mitch Mustain took first-team reps Thursday but did not get many opportunities to throw the ball very far downfield.

Mustain had talked Tuesday of remaining aggressive and taking shots at big plays when they presented themselves.

Nevertheless, he remains confident that he can still win the job.

"I feel like I'm right where I need to be," Mustain said.

So, for the most part, does Barkley.

"There are some little things to change, but I feel confident in the way I'm playing," he said.

Barkley has been buoyed by the chance to compete for a position, something he has not had to do since his freshman year of high school.

"In this situation, where there are other quarterbacks who want the job, that is different and it's kind of a little more motivation in a sense to try and do better," he said.

All of the quarterbacks are looking forward to Saturday when the Trojans will scrimmage at the Coliseum.

It will be Barkley's first time playing with the Trojans in the stadium.

"It's going to be a good time again to assert myself as a leader in that game situation and to prove that I can do this," he said.