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Georgia picks up UNLV transfer QB Jayden Maiava

On3 imageby:Jake Rowe•01/08/24•

JakeMRowe

Jayden Maiava
Dec 26, 2023; Phoenix, AZ, USA; UNLV Rebels quarterback Jayden Maiava (1) rolls out to pass during the second half against the Kansas Jayhawks in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia has added another player out of the transfer portal and this one might surprise some who follow the Bulldogs closely. UNLV quarterback Jayden Maiava has made it known that he will continue his career at UGA after one season in Sin City. He chose Georgia over USC and has three years of eligibility remaining

The 6-foot-4 220-pound signal caller is coming off a redshirt freshman season that saw him start 12 of 14 games, helping the Rebels to a 9-5 record and completing 63.5 percent of his passes. Maiava threw for 3,083 yards, 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while rushing for 277 yards and three more scores, earning Mountain West Freshman of the Year honors.

His second season at UNLV saw him serve as the backup for the first two games before his number was called in week three when Doug Brumfield left due to injury. He went on to post seven games with more than 250 passing yards and two in excess of 300 yards.

A native of Hawaii, Maiava finished his high school career in Las Vegas before signing with the Rebels. He was a three-star prospect in the 2022 class according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that includes all four websites that put together recruiting ratings and rankings. He was the No. 986 overall prospect in the country and the nation’s No. 54 quarterback.

Maiava was on Georgia’s campus last week for an official visit. He then boarded a plane to Los Angeles for an official visit to USC. In the end, he chose a chance to be a Bulldog rather than a Trojan despite the fact that the starting quarterback for the latter program is up for grabs.

Barring injury, he will not be the starter at Georgia in 2024. That job belongs to Carson Beck who set the Bulldogs’ single-season completion percentage record in 2023 and started all 14 games. He also threw for over 4,000 yards and led the Bulldogs to a 13-1 record.

The 2024 season is likely to see Maiava compete with Gunner Stockton for the backup job. He’ll also have a chance to compete for the starting job in 2025 along with Stockton and 2024 signee Ryan Puglisi.

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