Ever since he was a boy, Miller Moss dreamed of being USC’s beginning quarterback. He adopted that dream as a touted prospect right into a crowded quarterback room at USC. And he waited three years as a backup, biding his time as many others in his class bolted for the switch portal as an alternative.
Moss’ probability to steer USC’s offense lasted via one excellent bowl efficiency and 9 video games of an up-and-down season earlier than Moss was changed by his personal backup, and the window at his dream faculty had closed abruptly.
By Monday morning, three weeks after he was changed, Moss made it official that he plans to enter the switch portal, leaving USC after 4 seasons.
“Being a USC Trojan was a lifelong dream of mine,” he wrote. “I poured everything I have into this — body, heart, mind and soul — and am humbled by and proud of what my teammates and I accomplished, and fought tooth and nail for.”
Via 9 video games as USC’s starter this season, Moss threw for two,555 yards and 18 touchdowns, totals that ranked among the many finest within the Huge Ten on paper. However with Moss on the helm, the Trojans’ offense additionally proved a lot much less dynamic than earlier iterations. In all 5 of USC’s losses, essential errors from Moss down the stretch would show extremely pricey.
The circumstances at USC weren’t precisely perfect for Moss, both. The Trojans offensive line struggled mightily within the first half of the season, whereas Moss was typically requested to do an excessive amount of to carry the offense. In three totally different video games, he threw 50 passes or extra, regardless of USC having among the finest operating backs within the Huge Ten in the identical backfield.
USC slid to 4-5 with Moss because the starter, earlier than Lincoln Riley opted to take the offense in a unique route. He changed Moss with Jayden Maiava, a switch from Nevada Las Vegas, whose twin risk ability set extra intently mirrors different quarterbacks who’ve excelled beneath Riley.
In an interview with ESPN on Monday, Moss stated he’d had “a rough last three weeks” since he was benched. However he expressed gratitude for his 4 years at USC. Moss will now have one yr of eligibility to make use of elsewhere as a graduate switch.
It’s potential Moss may keep inside the similar convention — and maybe even face off with USC someday subsequent season. A number of Huge Ten groups discover themselves in critical want of a quarterback. Moss thought-about Michigan as a recruit and stated earlier this season that he’d loved his go to to Ann Arbor. UCLA, in determined want of a beginning caliber quarterback, may even take into account making that decision.
He first got here to USC in January 2021, with Clay Helton as coach and fellow four-star quarterback Jaxson Dart in the identical class. However when Riley arrived, Dart and former starter Kedon Slovis left. Moss stayed, even after Riley introduced extremely touted switch Caleb Williams with him from Oklahoma. It could be two extra years, as Williams introduced house a Heisman Trophy, earlier than Moss was handed the reins.
Moss could have no scarcity of suitors now lining as much as supply him that shot this offseason despite how his tenure ended at USC.
It began on the very best potential notice, as Moss led the Trojans to a powerful season-opening win over Louisiana State through which he threw for 378 yards and led a game-winning drive within the fourth quarter. The Tigers’ protection didn’t permit greater than 300 yards passing in any sport the remainder of the season.
Within the Vacation Bowl, 9 months earlier, he was even higher as Moss threw for six touchdowns in a storybook debut win over Louisville.
Within the aftermath of that sport, as fireworks exploded over the sector at Petco Park in San Diego, Moss beamed. Teammates known as for his coronation as quarterback, and Riley, in his post-game press convention, joked that Moss had most likely scared off any potential transfers anyway.
However a yr later, Riley had selected a brand new route. Now it was Moss who was leaving USC.
