Jayden Maiava on transition from UNLV to USC: 'It's just all mental'

Jayden Maiava put together an impressive freshman year at UNLV in 2023. He topped the 3,000-yard mark as the Rebels went 9-5 under Barry Odom, but entered the transfer portal after the season and made his way to USC.

So far, Maiava is handling the change of scenery well. He discussed his transition as the Trojans wrapped up their eighth practice of the year.

Maiava said the key to success at USC comes down to having the right mentality. From there, everything else will fall into place, and that’s how he’s carrying himself through camp.

“It’s been really good for me,” Maiava said. “Me, personally, it’s just all mental. Coming in here, just having that mindset of attacking each day, not sitting back and relaxing and just thinking about each day and getting the most out of it.”

Despite a big season in 2023, Maiava isn’t a shoo-in to replace Caleb Williams as USC’s starting quarterback. Miller Moss appears to have the inside track at the QB1 title after a strong showing in the bowl game last year, but Lincoln Riley said Maiava and Jake Jensen will also have chances to make an impression.

But, as Riley said, anything can happen. That’s why he wants each quarterback to be ready and show what they can do.

“Miller had the best spring like I told you guys at the end of the spring,” Riley said. “There’s no question if we were playing at that point that he would have been the starter. In my history man, a lot changes you know, I mean, you got some other guys in the room. You know, Jayden and Jake, they’ve got reps, they have gotten better fast. 

“We’re excited to see those guys, excited to see what Jayden can do after now having an offseason where he understands the offense and can grow. So my expectation is he’s going to be quite a bit better than what he was. And then certainly the expectation is that Miller and Jake and the guys that have been here are going to continue to grow too.”

As far as when Riley will make an official decision, he said he wants to see what Jayden Maiava, Miller Moss and Jake Jensen do in practice. Then, he and the staff will look at who separated himself.

“It’s not a decision that we had to make in the spring,” Riley said. “So we didn’t. I think I gave you guys a fair and honest update as to where it was but then at the same time, you know, we’re going to rep these guys. They’re all going to rep. We’re gonna rep these guys here until we feel separation right now and not trying to factor in too much of what happened before.”