USC Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava gets generous ranking from CBS Sports CFB analyst
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USC Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava gets generous ranking from CBS Sports CFB analyst originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The USC Trojans return their quarterback, Jayden Maiva, this fall, which maintains the high-flying offense coach Lincoln Riley wants to keep building off of following a season where the Trojans fell a little short of College Football Playoff aspirations.
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This hopes to change for the better come August, as way-too-early rankings suggest Maiva is going to be one of the Big Ten's best quarterbacks.
In a story from CBS Sports, Maiva, who threw for 3,711 yards and 24 touchdowns this past season, was ranked No. 3 amongst conference quarterbacks according to Tom Fornelli.
"I was skeptical of USC's decision to stay out of the portal last offseason and roll with Maiava, but I'm skeptical no longer," Fornelli wrote. "Maiava has a tendency to put the ball in danger and make throws he shouldn't, but that comes with inexperience, and another year as a starter could see him take his game to an entirely new level."
Fornelli listed Maiva amongst an elite company as only Ohio State's Julian Sayin and Oregon's Dante Moore were ranked ahead of the Trojans' signal-caller.
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Maiva was firm that returning to USC was the right move rather than pursuing other options elsewhere in college football or the NFL.
In fact, he'd rather just focus on himself, he told reporters last December.
“I’m really not [thinking that far ahead], I’m just kind of focused on one day at a time,” Maiava said. “Keeping level-headed and keeping my focus where it needs to be.”
Maiva assured that his focus is getting better this fall to take his talents to an NFL-ready level, putting his trust in Riley.
“Coach Riley,” Maiava said. “The staff obviously too. And my brothers.”
This fall, he'll have a chance to do exactly that in hopes of pushing the Trojans toward the postseason.
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Should he do so, he'll be able to back up his words and his preseason No. 3 listing.