UNLV transfer QB Jayden Maiava commits to USC, setting up a QB1 competition – Orange County Register

LOS ANGELES – Miller Moss, as USC rush-end Jamil Muhammad said back in December, understands that this is a business.

But a cruel business it can be, sometimes, Moss staking his claim to the Trojans’ quarterback job in the Holiday Bowl after two years of sitting behind Caleb Williams – only for another challenger to walk right through the door.

On Wednesday afternoon, following a few days of whirlwind back-and-forth reports between interest in USC and Georgia, UNLV transfer quarterback Jayden Maiava officially committed to USC, according to a Twitter announcement from representation group NILx.

“We are thrilled to introduce our Quarterback Jayden Maiava, The first-ever Polynesian QB in the history of the USC Trojans football program!” the post read.

In the wake of Williams’ likely departure for the NFL, head coach Lincoln Riley laid out clear plans to pursue a quarterback in the transfer portal, saying USC could target as many as two portal quarterbacks – one younger, one older. But Moss made such a statement in the Holiday Bowl, throwing for six touchdowns in a captivating performance as Riley embraced him postgame, that the head coach joked it might’ve “scared off” any quarterbacks interested in coming to USC.

With former top recruit Malachi Nelson surprisingly hitting the portal (and now committed to Boise State), though, USC desperately needed depth in the quarterback room, with no incoming commits in the 2024 class and their best backup option being former junior college product Jake Jensen. The program was linked for much of the portal cycle to Kansas State transfer quarterback Will Howard, and a source with knowledge of the situation said that USC was the clear favorite at one point in Howard’s recruitment, deciding between the Trojans or going pro.

“The writing looked like it was on the wall,” the source said.