Jayden Maiava talks USC transfer decision, Trojan quarterback position

The USC Trojans don’t have a quarterback controversy this spring, but they do have a healthy competition at the position between a couple of guys who are both talented enough to start and win games. Miller Moss is back for his third spring in Lincoln Riley’s offense and riding high after an impressive performance in the Holiday Bowl. He’s certainly seen as the leader at this point and it would be a substantial surprise if he’s not taking the first snap of the game against LSU to open the 2024 season. But Jayden Maiava did not give up a starting spot at UNLV just to sit on the sideline at USC. And he’s hit the ground running with the Trojans.

“It’s been really good,” Maiava said after USC’s Tuesday spring ball practice. “I’ve enjoyed it ever since I got here. I love it, the coaching staff, the team and everything going around in the locker room.”

USC could have gone a couple of different ways at quarterback in the transfer portal this offseason. At first, it looked like the Trojans would be able to land one of the top veteran options. But Moss’ six-touchdown performance against Louisville erased any chance of USC signing someone like Kansas State’s Will Howard, who eventually landed at Ohio State. Riley still wanted an experienced quarterback, so Maiava, who threw for 3,085 yards and 17 touchdowns as the starter for the Rebels last season, became the target.

It wasn’t exactly smooth sailing through the recruiting process. Maiava took visits to USC and Georgia, eventually committing to the Bulldogs. But a little more than 24 hours later, Maiava had officially flipped his commitment to the Trojans.

“I wanted to play under Lincoln Riley,” Maiava said. “The things that he’s done, the accomplishments that he has underneath his belt and being able to go out there and compete against the best…[Coach Riley is] just such a great dude. I mean, sitting in the film room, the knowledge that he has. It’s amazing.”

Maiva said the change of heart in terms of his commitment came down to a discussion with his family on what he really wanted. Riley understood the back-and-forth nature of the recruitment.

“I think for him, it really felt to me like once the dust settled and he was able to catch his breath and say, ‘What do I really want to do here?'” Riley said of the decision. “I think he just decided this is really where he wanted to be. The recruiting process can be tough on guys. Emotions and all that can really play a factor and I think it probably did for him a little bit. And especially for transfers, where it happens so quickly.”

Riley knew USC presented an attractive spot for a transfer quarterback.

“We wanted somebody at the end of the day that wanted to come compete here and believed in themselves enough to come compete,” Riley said. “We think this is a pretty good place to come play quarterback.”

And that’s all Maiava has in mind this spring.

“I love SC,” he said. “Great coaching staff and I can develop as a player as best as I can…I love competing. I love going out there and not just bringing my best, but bringing the best out of my teammates. So, just going out there and help the team win.”

Riley has been impressed with the work Maiava has done early in his USC career.

“He’s done a good job,” Riley said. “He has. I give him credit. You could tell he’s played. He’s got some poise about him. I could tell he’s put in a lot of work behind the scenes with the staff, on his own, with Luke [Huard] in terms of just spending extra time learning the offense. I feel like he’s got a really good control of what we’re doing in the first couple days, given that it’s his first few practices with us. He’s off to a good start. Like I said, he’s a poised kid. You can tell he’s not some true freshman coming in here that’s wide-eyed. He’s played. He’s learning how to prepare. And you see that out on the field.”

Maiava likes what he sees from the players and talent around him so far. He said he wanted “to compete with the best” and that’s what he’s gotten so far.

“It’s SC,” Maiava said when asked about the talent at wide receiver. “You’re gonna have dawgs all over the place. Not just in the receiver room but the line, the defensive line, the offensive line, everybody around. So I already knew coming in what I had. I just had to be myself here and go ball out with them.”

Maiava called Zachariah Branch “electrifying,” adding that every receiver in the room has stood out to him so far.

“That’s real right there,” Maiava said. “They’re all elite dudes. From Josiah [Zamora], to Ja’Kobi Lane, to Kyron [Hudson], to Duce [Robinson]. All those guys in the room are just elite.”

For Maiava, the competition will be with Moss at quarterback. And Moss is no stranger to battling for that position while keeping a healthy relationship with teammates.

“He’s cool,” Maiava said of Moss. “I love that guy. I mean, hats off to him for what he’s done in his past and all his accomplishments. All I do is just try to learn, not just from Miller Moss, but everybody else in the QB room.”

There aren’t set goals or thoughts about the depth chart or anything like that for Maiava. He’s just going to control and controllables this spring.

“Go out there and push myself, challenge myself and see how far it takes me,” he said. “One thing I can control is my attitude. So I just go into it having a positive attitude, taking everything, and being able to just have fun every single day.”