FOOTBALL

Morning Buzz: USC Adds Quarterback — For Now

Former UNLV quarterback Jayden Maiava has flipped his commitment from Georgia to USC.

If you’re keeping score, Maiava announced right before Christmas he would return to UNLV. On New Year’s Day, he entered the transfer portal.

Two days ago, he committed to Georgia. Last night, he switched to USC.

What changed his mind? Well, he probably got a better NIL offer. And Lincoln Riley must be assuring him that he can start at USC.

The same people that complain about Oregon and its NIL money when a player commits to the Ducks are now happy Maiava is coming to USC. No hypocrisy there.

More broadly, this is where I have an old-school view. Do guys like Maiava really care about the tradition of USC or the importance of the UCLA and Notre Dame rivalries?

This is where — all things being equal — I’d rather have someone who is invested in the program like Miller Moss. I didn’t like when Jaxson Dart left for similar reasons, although at least in that case there was no way to deny a talent like Caleb Williams.

With Maiava, it’s not such a clear-cut choice.

87 thoughts on “Morning Buzz: USC Adds Quarterback — For Now”

  1. If a kid is good enough to play football at the college level it is a safe bet that he “gets up” for every game he plays whether it be sucla, Neuter Dame or Wash State

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    1. Agree Sparrow. How does Scott know SC outbid Georgia for this quarterback? How much did they bid? And now the SC fan base are hypocrites based on Scott’s assumptions.

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      1. ” Well, he probably got a better NIL offer. ”

        Tell me where Wolf says the kid got a better NIL offer. Probably is not did.

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      2. Buddha: He is the “Inside USC” reporter making a wild ass assumption. Doesn’t even know if USC offered an NIL deal to the kid let alone the amount. This is not legitimate reporting. It’s National Enquirer stuff.

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    3. USC has been playing the NIL game, but not really for high school players and it is more about what NIL is supposed to be, for promotional value, etc, not just pay to sign.

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  3. SC looks like it might add another portal DL, edge guy from Oregon State, Sione Lolohea. Looks like he was a “co ” starter last year, another one and done guy.

    Maiava sounds like a head case.

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  4. “Mosst’s great game against Louie apparently did not convince Wiley that he was the man, similar to Fink having that great one-game against Utah and then fizzled out

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    1. I wouldnt write Moss out just yet.

      What happened to Caleb coming back? Is Caleb trying to play games with the NFL to get what he wants? Time for us to move on from Celeb.

      What I would really like to see is USC figuring out the tight ends. We have three really good freshmen coming in, but I doubt they will play. Can we get a transfer? Multiple tight ends sets might open up other possibilities.

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    2. Yeah, a school record for TD’s, got the ball out quickly, make his reads quickly, didn’t make the OL stand like statues for 25 seconds while he changed the play to suit him not the team, why be impressed by that ?

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      1. karma –Watch the highlight reel. He does get the ball out fast….but….it’s cuz he locks onto a receiver and throws. His 40 time isn’t listed anywhere but from the looks of things he’s about a 4.9 guy. With our 0-line it’s be nice to have somebody with more mobility. If we go with him and Moss we’re in for some sacks next year [and I’m a Miller Moss fan].

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      3. …it wasn’t easy but I located Jayden’s 40 time —which is between 4.76 & 4.8….
        #CheckOutHisFirstT.D.RunAtUNLVOnYouTube

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      4. Everybody’s gaga over a fucking MWC kid, holy fuck, how far has SC fallen ?

        Cue the ” Well Georgia wanted him so he must be good ” responses.

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      5. They needed another QB. Before they got this guy they only had 3 QB’s. One was a walk-on. You can’t run spring practice with just 3 QB’s

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  5. Most of the TP players don’t really care about the institution they are supposed to represent. They are there for NIL $ and an opportunity to start. We see that with Caleb, who has little connection to the University. The top programs today do not rely substantially on the TP to develop their programs. They build through the development of HS recruits. Since LR came to SC, it’s all about the TP. We see dedicated players leaving as transfers take their spots. Tackett Curtis is a prime example. Unfortunately, most of the relationships with local HSs has been trashed, most notably, MD. We are not in a good place with LR and his approaches.

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  6. Wiley is feeling the “big city” pressure of winning now especially after the reaction to his 2023 product, and the Portal is the fastest possible fix whereas developing high schoolers is a 2-3 year project

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      1. No, at least not to SC’s liking, but Portal guys are college tested and so provide (in theory) a safer estimation of talent-level

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      3. that was more due to coaching…grinch plan did not work in yr 1 or 2…the ‘O’ line was players out of their natural positions and a dumb idea…

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    2. Sparrow,

      Riley could have had the high school recruits up and running by now if he had recruited right when he got here. My questions is, is Riley lazy and introverted to where he does not want to recruit or does he believe in the portal?

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      2. John, my fair minded friend.. you are entirely right about us not knowing what led to Lincoln’s diffident persona ….But …it’s our job to guess…

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      5. karma —Lincoln just needed time for “a personal journey into the interior world of awareness”…
        #Yes,ILiftedThatPhraseFromACarolFoltAddress

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  7. I seriously doubt Maiava was told he would be the starter. Portal or not it is a pipe dream to think every high school player or transfer player dreamed of playing for USC all their life. That would extremely limit the pool of players we need. They go where they have the best chance to play and end up in the NFL. Some factor in education and others have always wanted to go to their dream school. Lots of reasons why players sign where they do. Once signed the school/coaches should develop a culture where players want to stay at the school.

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    1. If I were a hot teenage football talent I would be thinking this might be my only chance to rake in a large sum of money,
      and so go to one of the best payers, hopefully my favorite school.
      Times are hard, money is king

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      1. Since only about 1% of the 2500 graduating/leaving players each year will even be drafted,
        perhaps these kids need a new financial advisor

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  8. Scooter,

    This could be a good thing or a bad thing. If the new qb knows that he might not start and if he wants to stay for three years and wait his turn, then fine. If not, then they could have gone the jc route and got a qb. Moss, should be the starter. The kid has to wait his turn. I base this off of Vince Evans when he did not have a great year his first year and his second year he went to the Rose Bowl. Moss showed that he plays within the system and knows where to throw the ball in different situations and coverages.

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    3. I think Moss should be the starter but I like the fact that Moss has some legitimate competition. He needs someone to push. Like PC used to say, competition makes us better. Maiava could be SC’s next QB. The superstar from Georgia who’s currently committed to SC may never come here.

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      1. Conversation between Jayden & Lincoln:
        Jayden: Do I start?
        Lincoln: No, you have to compete.
        Jayden: I’m going to Georgia.
        Lincoln: Ok, you start.

        Liked by 1 person

  9. By the way Mr. Wolf, it might be better just to throw ideas out there without trying to credit ‘e-mail coaches’ for the remarks

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  10. Solidly written article by Luca Evan in today’s SCNG (Daily News, Daily Breeze, OC Register,…)

    ‘No half measures’: D’Anton Lynn’s journey from Celina, Texas to USC’s defensive guru

    Note the comment made about Riley’s demeanor in the Lynn hire towards the end of the article

    “….Her brother, sister Danielle said, is “well aware of the situation he’s going into” at USC. The Trojans’ season crumbled for the second straight year with an underwhelming defensive unit; public statements from head coach Lincoln Riley pledging improvement have been emphatic, tinged with a mild hint of desperation….”

    Yeah – ‘….tinged with a mild hint of desperation…’

    Based on the background and plan Lynn is bringing the defense is set to make a strong statement next year – note his signing is what has made recruits sign with USC.

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      1. Birdman singing the Lynn hire was a great hire admittedly the defense could not descend any deeper than Grinch took it but this is a great hire abd based on an another aside in the article AD Jen Cohen is a constant reminder to Riley, how short his tenure is. Lincoln Riley knows his entire coaching reputation is now teetering on a precipice of his own making….produce or wander off into a future of an indelible once in a lifetime, lost opportunity. I believe a true seachange is looming.

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  11. ‘What makes Wiley tick’ is important in measuring the likelihood of future Trojan football success,
    and the apparent fact that Wiles is not good at attracting high schoolers, and quite frankly I don’t think I’d be any good at begging at the feet of football-entitled teens

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      2. Funny, John…but, unfortunately, it wouldn’t work…. in that situation you have no cards to play …and you might as well say, “go ahead”….and say it with a smile…
        #….It’sTheOnlyVictoryYou’llGetOuttaThatSituation

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  12. Regardless of where the ex UNLV QB’s loyalties lie, we need a goddamn back up. & as to this being where you have an “old school view” When have you ever not had old school view?

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  14. Not sure how LR got Jayden Maiava to flip from Georgia. Miller Moss made a strong case to be the starter, but onboarding JM certainly puts a fire under both their butts.

    Great points about cultivating high school relationships – it is an area we desperately need to get back on track. PC knocked this requirement out of the park when he was recruiting (obviously before NIL, but still…), and he damn near built a wall around southern California (i.e. the state itself) that no other program could penetrate from 2002-2009. LR could learn a thing or two here (and if he personally cannot do it, then at least motivate his coaches to do it!).

    But it is a far more complex environment to pipeline talent into a college football program now. First, you MUST recruit and develop talent from high school. That is the foundation for an entire program, and to not develop players (e.g. Clay[dough] “Pillsbury” Helton), is unforgivable. Second, JC transfers. This is fertile ground for key performers who are auditioning for the bigger college stage – and they tend to be highly motivated to perform. Finally, since we are in the NIL era now, the transfer portal is an unavoidable area to work for talent – but is the most mercenary branch of the triad. TP arrivals come to start, have bona-fides behind them, and although have various reasons for their TP journey, will be in it predominantly for themselves, not for the culture and history of the program (unless it is exceptionally distinguishing… which definitely needs to be re-established at USC).

    So I said all that to say this: LR is not a master in any of these arenas yet. And he may never be. But he must lead the program, and its staff, to build it where he personally cannot. In short, he needs to be more of a CEO than a coach, delegate the “must dos” to capable talented subordinates, establish the vision, and make changes when things aren’t getting done. The jury is still out on his ability to do any or all of these, but maybe he is starting to understand that he must… Maybe…

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    1. 100% –and my guess is Lincoln is moving forward on all the fronts you mentioned…
      #WhetherHeSucceedsOrNotIsAnOpenQuestion..
      #FingersCrossed

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    2. NIL has completely changed the idea of putting a fence around your backyard because now the families can be flown out for every/any game. Sure, it is still easier to get a local recruit, but SC has some unique appeals – contacts, degree, LA exposure – that appeal to a certain percentage of kids from around the country and that is what Riley can sell.

      Riley is now focused on having a great coaching staff, which is how you develop kids and that impacts recruiting.

      So we see that DaBoer was a better hire, but does anyone think Lanning would do well at SC, without Nike money to lure kids? Or how about Aranda, who was a previous favorite on this board? I mean really, Riley messed up keeping Grinch and he has fixed that mistake with some great defensive coaches. He is also building the o-line from quality high school recruits and it is going to help make the offense more consistent.

      When you look at UCLA’s stats last year, it appears that either D’Anton got lucky or is a great coach. We will see. Not at Georgia level, but definitely should be able to hang with most of the teams they play in the regular season.

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    1. belittles SC for not getting 5 stars like mega billion bucks oregon dishes out, then when SC gets some one states something he does not know about how they did it.

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  16. -To MG’s comment about showing grace at the hands of imminent death, I have wondered if I was caught in 9-11 where it was be burned to death or jump, whether I would have done a beautiful swan dive as I am falling 50-floors to my death

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  18. Strange, isn’t it MG, that even those of us who believe in a beautiful afterlife still cling to this sure-thing life with everything we got

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  19. Got to love the “You’re fired” writers who come up with how Seattle’s
    Pete Carrot’s position has “EVOLVED from head coach to advisor,”
    and is another example of sports’ culture’s blood-thirsty motto of
    “What have you done for us lately?”

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    1. “Speaking Of” Department:
      One sports writer described Bill Belichick today as “the coach with most losses in NFL history”….. maybe it would have been fairer to start that sentence with the # of Super Bowls he’s won, huh?

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      1. Bill has been a prick forward the media and sports writers for many years. It’s now their chance to throw some daggers without the repercussions.

        The federal appeals court ladies just threw some daggers at Trump and he basically went crickets……HAHA!

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  20. Maybe it was time for Pete ‘Carrot (thanks Wolf!) to call it a day,
    afterall, he got a couple of national championships in college and a Super Bowl title (although it should have been 2)

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    1. I agree ….but….you could tell from how much jumping up & down Pete did in that win against the Cardinals how much he LOVES being on the sidelines…..
      #ThisIsGoingToBeADifficultAdjustmentForHim…
      #[ButANecessaryOne]

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