USC Hosting Jayden Maiava This Weekend
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lol but he wasn’t good enough for UNLV (according to a lot)
I’ve been watching unlv Football for 15 years. By far and away Maiava is the best QB we’ve had in this time period. Caleb was the 2nd best. Massive drop off after that. I do believe in the staff to plug in a guy that will have success. They identify talent and coach up well. Easily this is the most depth we’ve had at the position. I’m completely lost by all the comments in the chats the last month.
There are a lot of people that focus on just the negative... I know football, he was good at it. Now we have to hope the next guy is better, which we don't have track record of
I agree that he is the best (not so sure about “far and away”. Low bar though to be that. While I do think he’s good, I don’t think he’s USC caliber. If he starts for SC, they’ll be a 6 or 7 win team at best.
I think its simple. Maiava is not Marion's guy. That's all there is to it. The people that wanted to bring another QB in clearly said that they wanted someone to compete with Maiava after all of his mistakes in the last 3 games. Did you see the clear awkwardness between Maiava and Marion?
I don’t know how he could skip over Jarrod Jackson and Dack Ishii so quickly. Must have been an oversight.
Thank you! people lose sight very easy and this kid was a freshmen. The guys listed so far to replace him aren’t an upgrade at all in my opinion.
SC is thin at QB. Williams going to the draft, Malachi Nelson who was a 5 star out of HS last year in portal and supposedly headed to Boise (allegedly with some baggage). Miller Moss had a monster game in the Holiday Bowl so QB1 is his to lose for now.
There was talk that Cam Ward or DJ U would be at SC but Ward is headed to the draft and DJ to FSU. If Im not mistaken they had a 5* in the 2024 class decomit and I dont think anyone else on their roster other than Moss is anywhere near QB1 material at SC.
There was talk that Cam Ward or DJ U would be at SC but Ward is headed to the draft and DJ to FSU. If Im not mistaken they had a 5* in the 2024 class decomit and I dont think anyone else on their roster other than Moss is anywhere near QB1 material at SC.
I didn't get the feeling there were many that thought he wasn't good enough for UNLV.
I think there was some recency bias involved in people's posts. (Win a game, he's the messiah, same guy loses a game the following week and he's the worst QB in UNLV history).
He was best QB prospect for UNLV in the last 20 years..
Had an impressive first season as a starter, no doubt.
As good as he was, there are some parts of his game that at the very least should raise some red flags as potential problems.
Turnovers. A 2-1 TD to INT ratio is not good. And it honestly could have been worse. UTEP game he had a sure pick 6 dropped. He got bailed out a number of times on dangerous/bad throws.
Pocket presence wasn't always the best as far as dealing with pressure.
I think he's the type of player that could have been MWC player of the year. I also think if he doesn't clean up turnovers, he'll be portaling again for different reasons.
Rather have him than not. Especially looking at early potential replacements..
I guess I'm somewhere in the middle. Like his upside, but definitely some red flags to consider.
I think the way I look at is,he makes UNLV better.
But is there was a top 25ish team that you think if they had Maiava this year they would have been significantly better?
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That’s where I’m at. I’d prefer he stays, prefer stability, he’s got some things to clean up but he was only a frosh and seems coachable, his overall game is a net positive with lots of room to grow. That all said I’m skeptical of JM being a guy who will immediately step into a USC or other P4 and be the difference for the team. But who knows, put a quality P4 OL in front of him where he doesn’t have to scramble or be rushed much along with 3 Ricky White-level WRs and maybe his game goes to another level.
Quit opening the wounds I still have from sitting through an Iowa game this year. Yes I think Iowa would have been better with me at QB (or at least OC) so thow Maiava out there and I think they are better with him as well.
He had great yr for freshman, is he great runner, no, great passer no, will he get better, yes!
Being best QB in 20yrs at UNLV not saying much, program been in sewer and that's being nice.
USC big jump, I wish him well.
Being best QB in 20yrs at UNLV not saying much, program been in sewer and that's being nice.
USC big jump, I wish him well.
If he goes to USC he's just gonna get recruited over. A program like ASU seems like a much better fit but probably less $$$
I may be a minority here, but if USC comes calling you at least humor it regardless of their recent struggles. I also may be in the minority in thinking that he's going to have some good moments next year torching defenses with big pieces around him.
Edit: I say this in regards to IF the rumors of a deteriorating relationships was true. If it was the ship sailed long ago, approx 3 games ago. If they weren't and it's just rumors, kinda a 'feels bad man' moment and someone dropped the damn ball.
Edit: I say this in regards to IF the rumors of a deteriorating relationships was true. If it was the ship sailed long ago, approx 3 games ago. If they weren't and it's just rumors, kinda a 'feels bad man' moment and someone dropped the damn ball.
My thoughts too. He's a solid player, with a really good arm though, so maybe he'll fit in better in a more traditional offense. Hope he does great wherever he lands. Id be surprised though if he's qb1 at USC
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I suppose USC fans don’t know football either, they aren’t exactly thrilled with bringing him in. Most are saying backup material, depth. Some don’t even want him, very few if any want him to start.
He may be going there for education and football. He can always get his usc degree and then transfer somewhere else. Who knows, but USC is essentially a run like a pro football club. The amount of connections you make there with their alumni base and you can be set for life if you play your cards right.
He may be going there for education and football. He can always get his usc degree and then transfer somewhere else. Who knows, but USC is essentially a run like a pro football club. The amount of connections you make there with their alumni base and you can be set for life if you play your cards right.
Caleb Williams to Maiava?
Yeah I'd be as thrilled with that as going from Maiava to guy from Campbell.
If he gets a scholarship, and can sneak some nil money, I’d make that trade too. There are worse places to play football. Byu being one of them.
He'd be surrounded by better talent. He'd also be facing better talent so I always view it as a wash.
I think be could be really good.
Wouldn't be surprised if he lands at a P4 schools and does well..
Also wouldn't be surprised if he landed at a P4 and barely saw the field. Resulting next year in a thread titled 'Maiava in Portal Again' . And a bunch of people pondering if he might comeback to UNLV..
Never seen this QB Malachi from U$C play but, the first thing that come to mind when you mention SC QB with baggage is Rocky Hinds! Of all the places he could have went to, Why BSU ? 🤣 Does anyone have any insight.
Is JM looking for money or a QB1 spot? Or both? Being a backup at SC or Georgia gets him a ton of experience whether he plays or not. And with either of those schools next to his names, he won't only get a huge paycheck, he can assure he starts at whatever school wants him in 2025's portal with an even bigger paycheck.
This is what college sports has become. One donor could change an entire school's direction in one season because of the NIL, no matter how podunk it is. Boise has potato money. SDSU has Pinata money. Let's seriously hope Reno never taps into their trailer park money, cos' we'd never see that cannon ever again.
This is what college sports has become. One donor could change an entire school's direction in one season because of the NIL, no matter how podunk it is. Boise has potato money. SDSU has Pinata money. Let's seriously hope Reno never taps into their trailer park money, cos' we'd never see that cannon ever again.
NIL money and big program status is awfully tempting for these young men that seemingly come out of nowhere. I think what may be getting lost with JM is developing business pursuits potentially at the expense of his development as a quarterback. It isn’t until you’re holding a clipboard for a while that you realize what you had. It is hard for many young people to delay gratification and make a long-term decision. If he ends up anything less than QB1 (at a place that is willing to be patient with the turnovers and tears) at his next stop, it’s a risky and potentially career-stunting, short-sighted move. He will need to get significantly better to succeed at the programs that he’s dating now.
It was just 5 months ago he couldn’t convince the coaches he was worthy to start over Brumfield. He had a really good running game and an all-American receiver to complement him and help propel his success. Big games at home against SJSU and BSU proved to be much more than he was ready for. And he wants the pressure cooker of the B1G or SEC? Good luck.
I make this comment being somewhat indifferent that he’s gone with the QB that is committed. We will find success with the new QB. Odom is building a program.
Why can't I be this englishy?
Very well said, VegasKC! Part of me wants to see him get the starting position at USC/Georgia and excell at that level. The other part of me wants to see him back here. I think we all want to see this kid win. No matter where he's at. None of us want to see him as a backup and/or riding the pine next year.
That's why your text means so much. He has to take all of that into consideration. Because fans will be fans. But, it's the players themselves that ultimately pay for their decisions. Fans forget at a light speed. JM will remember this decision the rest of his life, whether good or bad.
The majority of these kids won't see a pro career. If they can pick up a couple of Mil over their college career they cannot be blamed for going after it. That is enough money - if used wisely - to set up a person financially for life. It's the NIL system that is helping to ruin college sports, not the athletes.
There is so much consolidated high end money in Idaho with nothing else to spend it on. Add that to a perennial top 35 team who has put players in the league. Why not Boise?
Problem is without having a mentor or taking more formalized classes many do not have the knowledge on how to manage personal finance.
I’d be surprised if he made millions, or even hundreds of thousands at USC. He isn’t Caleb Williams.
The knowledge AND maturity. Stats show that about 75% of former NFL players are broke five years out of the league. The chances a college kid properly navigates the lesser wealth that NIL brings (compared to NFL salary) is not changing anyone’s life. More likely to be a temporary distraction and detriment during key developmental years of a player’s career when they should be humble, hungry, and hard working.
Same can be said for Rock Stars, Day Traders, poker players, lottery winners etc. That doesn't mean that - when given the chance - they don't take the $$.
Since we were talking about college football I didn't go into other situations. But it goes to show that people who get wealth suddenly need some sort of support system to be successful. BTW, its not always those who are suddenly exposed to wealth need help. When I first came out to LV and was in the casino business, there was this particular Saudi who literally had hundreds of millions of dollars. He blew it all in Las Vegas over a period of approximately 10 years. To the point he couldn't even afford a limo. When he lived in London he had to take the subway.
I’ve also heard the OC at Boise and Malachi’s family have been friendly since he was in middle school.
Right. Evidently, Bush Hamden has been recruiting him since the kid was in 7th grade, while Hamden was at UW.
