USC Trojans redshirt sophomore quarterback Jayden Maiava his promise reversed from Georgia to USC in January with hopes of taking over for 2022 Heisman trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams and becoming the next great signal caller under USC coach Lincoln Riley.
After earning Mountain West Freshman of the Year honors with the UNLV Rebels in 2023. Maiava would make the jump from the Group of Five level to the Power Four. He fought Miller Mos in spring and fall camp, but Moss won the job before the Trojans season opener in Las Vegas. The redshirt junior was phenomenal against the LSU Tigers, earning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors. Moss continued to excel as a first-year starter early in the season, leaving the Trojans with a 3-1 record and ranked No. 11 in the AP Poll heading into the month of October.
September 1, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) warms up before a game against the LSU Tigers at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory credits: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images / Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
However, over the past month the Trojan horses have collapsed, fallen Four of the last five games and find themselves in a one-game season every week to become ordinary qualify with a 4-5 record.
Maiava played sparingly in that time, attempting a total of eleven passes in three appearances. Despite the season not going as he had hoped, Maiava has remained positive throughout the process.
“There’s only so much you can control,” Maiava said. “What I think about every day is what I have control over and that is my effort, that is obviously my attitude. Effort is non-negotiable, but I can clearly control my attitude. You’re either the medicine or the cancer, so I’m just trying to be the medicine for the team, help the team as much as I can and be the best teammate I can for my players.”
Going from being a star quarterback at UNLV to appearing in the Mountain West Conference Championship Game and making money can be difficult for anyone, let alone a 20-year-old college student.
“You have to fall in love with the process to enjoy everything else afterwards,” Maiava said. “I think supporting Miller Moss has done a lot for me as an individual, both on and off the field. I learned a lot from him, he is a great leader. “I’m just trying to add as much as I can to be the best player I can be for my teammates.”
But everything changed Monday night when news broke that USC coach Lincoln Riley would turn to the redshirt sophomore quarterback for the Trojans’ next game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Nov. 16, hoping to get the season off to a good start. way to close.
“I’m here for one thing and that’s just to win games and I firmly believe in our teammates,” Maiava said. “We have a great team and a great coaching staff.”
USC is in its second bye week of the season before Nebraska hosts their home game on Nov. 16. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 PM PT and will air on FOX.
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