Cody Kessler Named USC's Starting QB for 2014

There’s little doubt quarterback competitions are the position battle scrutinized the most in preseason practices. However, at USC, the quarterback battle is officially over - for now.

First-year USC coach Steve Sarkisian has picked Cody Kessler as the team’s starting quarterback. Kessler was competing with redshirt freshman Max Browne for the No. 1 spot on the depth chart. Sarkisian hasn't ruled out Browne unseating Kessler in the fall, but all signs point to Kessler opening the season as USC's No. 1 quarterback.

Browne ranked as one of the top quarterbacks in the nation in the 2013 signing class and redshirted his first season on campus.

Kessler edged Max Wittek for the No. 1 job last year and finished 2013 with 2,968 passing yards and 20 touchdowns.

Although there’s plenty of time to sort through a depth chart before the season opener, this seems to be a good move for Sarkisian.

If Kessler has outplayed Browne all spring, there’s no sense in waiting to pick a quarterback. Kessler seemed to make significant progress late last season and should have a chance to build on that in 2014 with a solid group of receivers returning to Los Angeles.