Matt Barkley Does Not Plan To Be Backup In Philly

Jul 26, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles fourth round draft pick quarterback Matt Barkley (2) passes the ball to second round draft pick tight end Zach Ertz (86) after practice during training camp at the Eagles NovaCare Complex. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

While Matt Barkley may have fallen short of expectations in his senior year at USC, the former Trojan quarterback has lost none of his confidence as a starter. He’s been a rookie with the Eagles for three months and in training camp for all of a few days, but the budding NFL quarterback knows what he wants.

In an interview with 94 WIP,a radio program in Philly, Barkley made it clear he has his eyes set on taking the field at Lincoln Financial Field come Sundays, however long it takes to get there.

“That’s not a plan to be a backup,” Barkley said. “I don’t think that ever should be your goal. Sometimes it may work out that way, but it doesn’t mean I’m not going to have that goal to be on the field.”

Barkley noted that he is still learning, and knows he has a bit of a ways to go before he can be THAT guy for the Eagles.

“I’m still on the learning curve, to where I kind of have more questions than answers with the offense,” he told 94WIP’s Angelo Cataldi during his radio interview. “But I think at the end of camp, no doubt, it will be the opposite to where I can provide those answers and provide options for change if necessary.”

Barkley is no stranger to performing on the big stage; in high school, he was the face of premier football program Mater Dei High School, and he gained ever more fame starting for USC as a true freshman and keeping the job all four years. With so much center stage experience, it’s no wonder Barkley is confident he can succeed at the next level.

Though some have maintained skeptical about Barkley’s fit in the Eagles’ offense–now run by Chip Kelly, famous for his lighting-fast schemes he implemented at Oregon–the rookie seems to be blending into his new pro life quite well.