Miller Moss-Jayden Maiava spring ball QB battle contains layers at USC

There will be a quarterback battle at USC football this spring. Lincoln Riley isn’t automatically or immediately giving Miller Moss the starting job. Moss will have to earn the job in a competition with Jayden Maiava, the underclassman from UNLV who transferred to the Trojans this offseason.

Most USC fans, if you ask them, would say that Miller Moss has already earned the starting job for the 2024 season and that crucial season-opening game against LSU in Las Vegas on Labor Day weekend. What will be interesting to see is if Riley will be willing to elevate Maiava to the starting job or if this “competition” is really just a way of making sure Miller Moss earns QB1 status without having it given to him before spring ball even begins.

Let’s discuss the elements of this situation in depth:

WHY USC MOVED AWAY FROM WILL HOWARD

Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports

Lincoln Riley said last week that he did not want a portal quarterback who was older. That quarterback obviously would have come to USC expecting to start. Otherwise, such a quarterback would not have transferred to the program. This is why Will Howard never did transfer to USC. An upperclassman would have reasonably expected to start for the Trojans. Riley didn’t want that because he wanted Miller Moss to have a chance to be the guy, but Riley did want a quarterback competition. He wanted Moss to have reasonable odds of becoming the starter instead of putting an established veteran above him.

MOSS THE SENIOR VS A YOUNGER QB

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Riley said last week that “we wanted a young guy who had played (in the portal),” someone with enough experience to step right in and play quarterback if needed. USC was trying to thread the needle in the portal, providing competition for Moss but not from a senior who would expect to start every game. Maiava…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/miller-moss-jayden-maiava-spring-150556744.html

Author : Trojans Wire

Publish date : 2024-02-23 15:05:56

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