Jayden Maiava reveals best piece of advice Lincoln Riley has given him

After starting the final four games of USC‘s 2024 campaign, Jayden Maiava is entering the upcoming season as the Trojans’ starting quarterback. With that role, he has USC head coach Lincoln Riley‘s full attention. On Monday, Maiava revealed the best piece of advice Riley has given him.

“He’s told me a lot of great things,” Maiava said. “Every time he talks, I’m all ears. So I think one thing I can just stand on right now is, he’s really big on me taking it one day at a time, and being consistent with that and staying disciplined with it.”

There perhaps isn’t a better person in the country for a quarterback to learn from than Riley. The 41-year-old head coach has mentored three Heisman Trophy winners (Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Caleb Williams). He also was Jalen Hurts‘ head coach at Oklahoma.

Now, Maiava is determined to be Riley’s next QB prodigy. Maiava transferred to USC ahead of the 2024 season after spending two years at UNLV.

Maiava redshirted in 2022, but was UNLV’s full-time starter in 2023, tallying 3,085 passing yards and 17 touchdowns while throwing 10 interceptions. Maiava also recorded 277 rushing yards and three scores in 2023. For his efforts, he was named the 2023 Mountain West Freshman of the Year.

Maiava’s individual success translated to the win column. UNLV posted a 9-5 record — its most wins in a season since 1984 — and appeared in the Mountain West Championship game.

Despite Maiava’s success at UNLV, he wasn’t immediately USC’s starter. He began the 2024 season as Miller Moss’ backup and had to earn his opportunity to get on the field. When Maiava was finally given a chance to start, he didn’t allow it go to waste.

Maiava recorded 1,201 passing yards and 11 touchdowns, compared to six interceptions. USC won in three of Maiava’s four starts and nearly defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who went on to be the national runner-ups.

After a strong spring and summer, Jayden Maiava is excited to build on his momentum. Lincoln Riley has no shortage of faith in his redshirt junior.

“His arm talent and his decisiveness in which he plays and how he sees things is really unique and has a chance to be really special,” Riley said about Maiava. “We have really focused in on two big areas this offseason, him continuing to find his voice as a leader, in which he’s really grown and matured and has become comfortable with. A I think the second for him, like a lot of young quarterbacks that we’ve had that become pretty solid players, is making sure that your mistakes don’t kill us.”