Matt Barkley looking forward to USC pro day workout on campus

Former USC quarterback Matt Barkley is already a pro -- he made media appearances in New Orleans on Friday on behalf of a pizza chain -- but he’s also preparing for the April draft.

Barkley, who had been rehabilitating his injured right shoulder in Alabama, told ESPN’s Colin Cowherd during an interview that he had not decided whether he would throw at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis next month, but he would team with former Trojans receiver Robert Woods at USC’s pro day workout on campus March 27.

“I don’t feel like I have to,” Barkley said of throwing at the combine. “We’ll see when that time gets closer. It’ll probably be more of a game-day decision. . . . I don’t feel like I have to necessarily prove anything.”

Barkley sounded as if he preferred the pro day setting.

“It is a little more isolated with people you’re familiar with as opposed to guys you just started throwing with two days before,” he said.

Barkley passed for 36 touchdowns, with 15 interceptions, in 11 games last season. He was injured late in the fourth quarter during the Trojans’ loss to UCLA and did not play against Notre Dame or in the Sun Bowl against Georgia Tech.

The Trojans, who started the season ranked No. 1, finished 7-6 and unranked.

“We didn’t finish strong this year -- I know that,” he said. “It doesn’t mean I’m any less of a quarterback this year. And so I’m excited just to put that back in people’s minds.

“I haven’t lost any confidence in myself. I haven’t doubted my ability to play quarterback at the next level, not once.”

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