Throughout every of his final two Decembers at USC, Lincoln Riley confronted a important determination at quarterback: Pursue a brand new passer within the portal or belief the one who’s subsequent in line?
In every case, Riley has opted to maintain with the identified amount. However as his fourth common season at USC involves an in depth Saturday in opposition to UCLA, the coach may face a extra sophisticated conundrum on the place this offseason.
Run it again with Jayden Maiava, who statistically has been one of many extra achieved passers in faculty soccer this season? Or flip the web page to electrical five-star freshman Husan Longstreet, who may not be prepared to attend for much longer for his shot as USC’s beginning quarterback?
It’s a query that has confounded many faculty soccer coaches through the switch portal period, because the notion of a prime quarterback prospect patiently ready his flip to be named a starter has grow to be more and more uncommon. Of the highest dozen quarterbacks within the class of 2024, six have already transferred. From 2023, it’s seven of the highest 12. From 2022, it’s eight. And of those that do keep, solely a handful have been nonetheless ready to start out as sophomores.
USC quarterback Jayden Maiava seems to be for an open receiver throughout a win over Michigan on the Coliseum on Oct. 11.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Instances)
It’s not clear but if that’ll be the case with Longstreet. However this week, Riley made a transparent plea for the younger passer’s endurance when requested in regards to the problem of convincing a prime prospect to stay round in a reserve position.
“For any player, especially a quarterback, I don’t know if this would be the right time to leave this place,” Riley mentioned. “This thing is getting pretty good. And I think a lot of people recognize that, both in what we have now and what we’re bringing in, where this thing is going.”
Chatting with Longstreet’s state of affairs, Riley pointed to his monitor report with quarterbacks who waited their flip.
“Other than Jalen Hurts, we haven’t had any quarterback that’s come in and was the guy right away,” Riley mentioned. “Every one of them, all the guys that did all the things, they all had that time. And if you ask them now, maybe then they wanted to be playing of course, the competitor in them. But if you ask them now, they’re all damn happy they had time and it made a big difference. Because when it became their time, they were ready.”
USC quarterback Husan Longstreet scores a landing in opposition to the Missouri State on the Coliseum on Aug. 30.
(Luke Hales/Getty Photographs)
Maiava, in fact, has been greater than only a mere caretaker. In any case, he leads the Huge Ten in passing yards per sport this season (3,174), whereas additionally main USC in dashing touchdowns (6). With Maiava and his cannon arm on the helm, USC’s offense has returned to its proper place as considered one of faculty soccer’s most explosive outfits, producing 51 performs of 20-plus yards this season, fourth-most within the nation.
On paper, there’s no purpose to assume Riley could be keen to interchange Maiava, who has rejuvenated each the read-option sport and the downfield facet of his offense since taking on for Miller Moss final season. However the dialog about USC’s future on the place was sophisticated by the second half of the season, throughout which Maiava stumbled in opposition to stiffer competitors.
Throughout the Trojans’ first six video games, Maiava appeared to have taken a serious step ahead. He was finishing 72% of his passes, up 12% from the earlier yr. He was averaging an eye-popping 11 yards per try, two yards higher than Caleb Williams in his Heisman-winning season. Plus, after vowing to chop down on turnovers, Maiava had solely thrown two interceptions over these six video games, showcasing a a lot better grasp of the sport and Riley’s offense.
“A very high percentage of our plays, he knows what to do and where to go with the ball,” Riley mentioned. “He’s very comfortable with what we’re doing. Very focused, confident on his reads. That’s why he’s been so efficient all year.”
The robust begin garnered severe NFL curiosity. Professional Soccer Focus only recently ranked Maiava because the No. 5 draft-eligible quarterback within the upcoming draft. However his second half of the season has begged some questions — not nearly whether or not Maiava is able to declare for the draft, however whether or not he’s the best quarterback for Riley to prioritize heading into subsequent season.
Up in opposition to three of the nation’s prime 11 defenses in go yards allowed — Oregon, Iowa and Nebraska — Maiava sustain the identical consistency from the season’s first half. His completion fee, by his final 5 outings, sits simply above 59% — decrease than it was throughout his 2024 stint as USC’s starter. Maiava’s turnovers have additionally tripled throughout that stretch (6), whereas he’s averaging greater than three yards fewer per try (7.64)
Riley mentioned Tuesday that Maiava’s inconsistencies of late have been as a result of caliber of defenses he’s confronted — and circumstances that compelled USC’s offense to be aggressive downfield.
“We’ve continued to score points and win games and have one of the best offenses in the country, and he’s been a big part of that,” Riley mentioned. “He’s still learning. He can play better. But he’s continuing to give us chances to win every week.”
USC quarterback Jayden Maiava gestures to teammates throughout a win over Iowa on Nov. 15.
(Mark J. Terrill / Related Press)
He’ll even have the prospect within the coming weeks to think about if he needs to enter the NFL draft.
Within the meantime, Longstreet will proceed to look at dutifully because the No. 2 quarterback. He’s appeared in 4 video games, finishing 13 of 15 passes, on his approach to a redshirt season. That point ready, Riley mentioned, has been important.
“This has been such a valuable year for him — to serve as a backup quarterback, to learn, to just kind of be there to see all of these things transpire,” Riley mentioned. “These are just things you can’t simulate. It gives you an opportunity to watch these different situations, how they happen, be able to go back, like ‘What would you do? How would you handle it?’
“The hope is maybe you learn, ‘Alright, I wasn’t the one playing, but when I am, I know exactly what I need to do or what I don’t need to do.’ It might be about on the field. It might be about leadership. It might be about a number of different things.”
USC quarterback Husan Longstreet is pushed out of bounds by Illinois’ Miles Scott at Memorial Stadium on Sept. 27 in Champaign, Unwell.
(Justin Casterline / Getty Photographs)
When Longstreet will get an opportunity to place that data to make use of stays to be seen. However his teammates at USC have been impressed up to now by what they’ve seen from the freshman.
“Husan is a machine, for real,” mentioned freshman Tanook Hines. “He throwing that thing about 80 [yards], then turn around and run 4.3, 4.2.”
Others have been much more encouraging of the quarterback they hope stays part of USC’s plans.
“He’s destined for greatness,” guard Kaylon Miller mentioned of Longstreet. “Every single time I see him out there, I tell him, keep doing your thing. You keep going on the route you are right now, you’re going to be great.”
