USC's Jayden Maiava Compared to Heisman Winner by Big Ten Coach
One Big Ten coach compared Jayden Maiava to former USC quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams.
USC quarterback Jayden Maiava has a promising future ahead of him. Rather than declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft, this season will be an opportunity for Maiava to boost his draft stock and guide the Trojans to their first College Football Playoffs. As a junior at USC last year, Maiava was among the top quarterbacks in the Big Ten.
Coming into his senior season, numerous Big Ten coaches have commended Maiava's skills. One Big Ten coach drew a comparison between Maiava and former USC quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams. Williams was the Trojans' eighth Heisman Trophy winner in program history in 2022. According to a Big Ten coach, "He has the ability to be a better runner than [head coach Lincoln Riley s] had.
He reminds me of Caleb [Williams] in some ways. He s a good passer, he can run, he can throw, he s accurate and I felt like he was pretty poised back there. Guys were teeing off on him, he got hit and came back and stood back up in the pocket and kept making plays. He definitely can do that." A Big Ten defensive coordinator also highlighted Maiava's composure on the field as one of his strengths.
"He did a really good job of managing the game, showed composure," the coordinator said. "He threw the ball really well. He s got that stature about him." The USC Trojans will kick off the 2026 season against San Jose State on August 29 at the LA Memorial Coliseum.
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