When Jayden Maiava was named USC’s starting QB last November, he walked into a storm. Yes, the locker room already backed Miller Moss, a veteran who had earned their trust over 3 seasons. On top of that, Maiava had only a few games to prove himself—and USC needed wins fast. “That’s a hard thing for anyone to do,” said WR Ja’Kobi Lane. But despite some ups and downs in his 4 starts, Maiava showed enough to keep the QB1 title heading into spring. Even with 5-star freshman Husan Longstreet and seasoned transfer Sam Huard in the mix, he’s still standing. But spring camp hasn’t just been about survival—it’s been about growth. And the next few months will reveal if he’s truly ready to lead the Trojans for good.

For Jayden Maiava, the grind started in the film room. “Countless hours,” he said—breaking down every misstep, every shaky throw. But on tape, the truth stared back: too much dancing in the pocket, those ‘happy feet’ leading to costly errors. You know, the bowl game alone brought 3 brutal picks. But Maiava owned it. As Coach Lincoln Riley put it best, stating he’s “his own toughest critic.” Still, despite the effort, alarm bells are ringing in L.A. Riley now faces a tough reality—his QB1 is still a work in progress….

On the April 21st episode of USC at The Voice of CFB, the crew dove into Jayden Maiava’s 2024 outlook—and Ethan Inman didn’t hold back. “Maiava certainly showed some flashes,” he said, pointing to the QB’s willingness to take risks and open up the offense. That aggressiveness brought some fireworks—but also some flaws. “Compared to Miller Moss, he took a lot more risk in the passing game which led to some moments where the offense opened up a lot more. And that was certainly exciting to see. That also led to him making a few more mistakes in the passing game as well,” Ethan noted. While Maiava has the physical tools, he is still rough around the edges. However, high ceiling? No doubt. But the praise came with caution.

According to Ethan, when Maiava plays with confidence and gets aggressive, he can flat-out shine. The arm talent is there. The flashes are real. But when he’s off? The offense doesn’t just dip—it tanks. And that inconsistency was clear early on. However, the good news? He’s got a full offseason to sharpen up and settle in. Right now, if growth follows grit, Maiava could be in for a big leap.

Maiava’s four starts in 2024 were a rollercoaster, but the talent was undeniable. He came out swinging in his debut vs. Nebraska, tossing 3 TDs and adding a rushing score in a 28–20 win. Against rival UCLA, he stayed cool under pressure, throwing for 221 yards and a clutch game-winner. Even in a shootout loss to Notre Dame, Maiava lit it up with 360 yards and 3 scores. So, the tools are there—now it’s all about improvement.

However, Ethan made it crystal clear—Maiava has the tools, but confidence is the key. “I think that Maiava, though, is someone that needs confidence instilled in him for him to reach his full potential.” So, the mistakes in 2024? Many trace back to shaky self-belief. But competition can be the cure—and Lincoln Riley knows it. “I think that Lincoln Riley is someone who’s always kind of invited quarterback competition, and we’ve seen that throughout his tenure here at USC,” Ethan added. Now, it’s on Maiava to rise, reset, and respond.

Because Lincoln Riley’s commitment to competition is in full swing. To keep the QB1 spot hot, he’s brought in freshman Husan Longstreet and transfer QB Sam Huard. However, Longstreet dazzled at Inglewood High with 3,941 yards and 40 TDs, later shining at the Elite 11 Finals. Meanwhile, Huard, a record-breaking arm and former MaxPreps Freshman of the Year, brings valuable experience from Washington, Utah, and Cal Poly, with NFL lineage to boot. So, the QB room just got crowded—and exciting. But Ethan made it clear—nobody’s untouchable in Lincoln Riley’s system. “No one’s kind of above being replaced,” he said, pointing to the high-profile swap of Spencer Rattler for Caleb Williams back at Oklahoma. Honestly, Riley’s track record speaks loud. If you’re not producing, someone else will.

But Ethan didn’t mince words. If the USC HC believes in Maiava, he needs to show it—loud and clear. “Treat him like the QB1 and that confidence would go a long way for a guy with a lot of talent but is a little bit raw,” Ethan said. Honestly, from now until Week One, that belief could be the difference. Right now, while Maiava still has work to do to lock down that QB1 spot, the head coach just sent a pretty clear message straight to Husan Longstreet.

Lincoln Riley on his freshman QB: Jayden Maiava needs to stay alert

USC’s quarterback race is officially a three-way battle. Although Jayden Maiava is the favorite for now, spring is just the warm-up. So, with Husan Longstreet and Sam Huard grinding for that QB2 spot, summer could shake everything up.

Well, Sam Huard hasn’t taken a live snap since 2023, but don’t count him out just yet. The former Cal Poly starter is healthy again and sharpening his game under the watchful eye of his uncle, QB coach Luke Huard. However, first priority? Shaking off the rust and getting back in rhythm. On the other hand, five-star freshman Longstreet is already turning heads. He’s raw but fearless, pushing to prove he belongs in the conversation. And while Jayden Maiava holds the edge, the battle for QB2 is heating up—because in football, the backup is always one play away.

In today’s game, having a steady backup is no luxury—it’s a necessity. Someone who can step in and keep the wheels from falling off. That’s the mission in every QB room. USC HC Lincoln Riley knows it, too. And while it’s only spring, he is already liking what he sees from the new faces. Speaking on their early strides, he said: “We’re reppin’ all three of those guys quite a bit right now, so they’ve both shown why we brought them here… All three guys have done a lot of good things that we’re very excited about.” So, the competition is real, and the growth is showing.

But for freshman Husan Longstreet, enrolling early has paid off big time. Coach Riley made it clear—Longstreet’s head start is already showing. His raw talent and rapid growth have caught the staff’s eye. Riley is impressed with how quickly he’s grasped the playbook and tempo. “I can see Husan’s talent stands out on the field. He’s picked up the offense quickly. He’s taken advantage of coming here early,” Riley shared. So the message to the frosh QB? The starter spot is wide open. Right now, if the moment comes this fall, USC might just have a true freshman ready to move the chains.