How USC QB Jayden Maiava helped Jacob Maiava thrive in first UCF football start
With an injury to Owen Spell forcing a shuffle on the UCF Knights' offensive line, redshirt freshman Jacob Maiava earned his first start at center.
Jacob Maiava, the 6-foot-2, 280-pound redshirt freshman center for UCF, had the backing of his brother, USC starting quarterback Jayden Maiava, to help him feel confident before his first start as the team's center. Jayden, who had played the position before, shared his experience and reassured Jacob that it would feel like practice after the initial play.
Jacob soaked in instruction from the Knights' coaching staff and relied on the support of his brother, whom he called each evening for encouragement. UCF made changes to their offensive line for their first game against Georgia State, with Connor Meadows moving to right guard and Jayden earning the center position. Jacob's performance was highly praised by head coach Scott Frost, offensive coordinator Steve Cooper, and right tackle Preston Cushman.
They highlighted his ability to keep the offensive line organized, make the correct IDs and checks, and his overall composure during the game. Jacob, who had committed to UCF after being recruited by McKenzie Milton, aims to become a consistent presence in the trenches for the Knights moving forward.
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