Sanchez, 22, will monitor the decisions of Oklahoma sophomore Sam Bradford and Georgia junior Matthew Stafford. Both quarterbacks are regarded as potential high draft picks if they come out this year.
While acknowledging that, "all I've ever dreamed about was being a pro quarterback," Sanchez also said, "I'm going to investigate as much as I can. If it's not there, I'm coming back."
That's what Palmer and Leinart did.
"Carson said he didn't have quite the opportunity that I do because his junior year wasn't quite as successful as mine," said Sanchez, who passed for 34 touchdowns with 10 interceptions and led the Trojans to a 12-1 record.
In 2001, Carroll's first season, the Trojans completed a 6-6 season with a 10-6 loss to Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Palmer, projected to be selected behind quarterbacks David Carr and Joey Harrington in the draft, opted to return.
"It was an easy decision for him," said Bill Palmer, Carson's father. "His attitude at the time was, 'I haven't done anything yet.' "
In 2002, Palmer caught fire in the second half of the season and won the Heisman Trophy. He was selected No. 1 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2003 draft.
Bill Palmer said he would advise Sanchez that he should "unequivocally, absolutely not," turn pro before exhausting his eligibility.
"He would be a front-runner for the Heisman on a great team," Bill Palmer said. "You can never recapture those years. I can't even imagine why he would do it."
Leinart had already won the Heisman and two national titles when he went through what turned into an agonizing decision-making process in January 2005.
Some have speculated that Leinart left millions of dollars on the table by not turning pro after winning the 2004 Heisman and starring in the 2005 Bowl Championship Series title game, theorizing that the San Francisco 49ers would have chosen him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft.
But Leinart's left elbow required surgery, a factor that influenced his decision to come back to the Trojans. USC returned to the BCS title game, losing to Texas, and Leinart was taken 10th by the Arizona Cardinals.
Sanchez knew the history when he met with Morton on Monday.
"I just told him to look at all his options, talk to everybody, formulate your best opinion and do what's right for you," Morton said, chuckling. "Then I said, 'But I want you to come back.' "
If Sanchez returns, he will lead an experienced USC offense that is expected to be the strong suit for a team that could make another run at a national title.
"This is a lot different than a game where you can go out and complete a pass and get settled into it," he said. "This is way tougher."
Sanchez recalled his high school days when he made what he described as the two toughest decisions of his football career.
After his sophomore year at Santa Margarita High, he decided to transfer to Mission Viejo. Two years later, he decided to sign with USC.
"I'm just glad I have a good support group," he said. "I'll get all the right information from Coach Carroll and talk to my family and go from there."
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gary.klein@latimes.com
sam.farmer@latimes.com
