When you think of elite Big Ten quarterbacks, you may think more about eras past, whereas the present state of the conference seems to be more revolved around skill position talent. But when you do focus on the QBs, you'll find that there is still a lot of production at the position. And when you think about Jayden Maiava, there may not be a better QB that represents that level of production over the past two years better.
Maiava may not have the benefit of being a big name, but at USC after the Caleb Williams era, you must live up to expectations. It's safe to say that at least in terms of statistics, Maiava has lived up to the hype. Last season, he ranked first in the Big Ten in passing yards and led the entire nation in QBR. He even ranked top
5 on PFF in big time throws. For someone who had never to that point been a full-time starter, he became someone who USC fans could rely upon.
Still, one thing is missing from both his and USC's resume in the Lincoln Riley era. Despite the fact Riley's success at developing young QBs has translated into Maiava's play, it hasn't translated into a CFP appearance. And after last week's letdown against Oregon with an opportunity to win a game at home against a team without their own starting QB, they have a long road to hoe before they can start thinking about contending for a CFP spot.
For now, perhaps Maiava's performances have been overshadowed by the lack of USC's collective mentality as a team. For the rest of the season though, he has a unique opportunity to climb that mountain and finally announce himself as a QB who has escaped the shadows of outside discourse.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Jayden Maiava looks to transcend the USC narrative
