USC QB group brings together a variety of experience levels
Returning starter Jayden Maiava, promising freshman Husan Longstreet, and well-traveled senior transfer Sam Huard are making big strides
USC freshman QB Husan Longstreet throws at USC spring practice. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dan Lovi (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES — When it comes to the quarterback position for the USC football team, the Trojans can never have too much of a good thing.
A position that was in flux last season seems to be heading in the opposite direction this year, with a stable group of quarterbacks who have all impressed so far three weeks into spring camp.
Jayden Maiava, who took over down the stretch last season and went 3-1 in his four starts – including a 35-31 come-from-behind victory over Texas A&M in the Las Vegas Bowl – is the frontrunner to start.
But senior transfer Sam Huard and freshman Husan Longstreet, a former Centennial High standout, have earned their fair share of first-team reps through the first three weeks of spring practices due to their steady play.
“We’re repping all three of those guys quite a bit right now,” USC head coach Lincoln Riley said after Tuesday’s practice. “You see Husan’s talent stand out on the field. He’s picking up the offense quickly. Sam has been tremendous. He’s done a really good job in some of the different situational football that we’ve done. … All three guys have done a lot of good things that we’re very excited about and I think they’ve all three showed the capability to be able to help us and be able to move this offense.”
Huard is the most experienced quarterback in the room, starting his college career at Washington before transferring to Cal Poly, an FCS school, where he threw for 2,247 yards and 18 touchdowns.
The son of two-time Super Bowl champion Damon Huard then transferred to Utah where he didn’t see any game action, before joining the Trojans this spring, uniting with his uncle Luke Huard who is the USC quarterbacks coach.
“Obviously, I’ve been in the college football landscape for a couple years now for a little bit, so I’m always just doing everything I can to help,” Huard said. “But at the same time, we’re just continuing to compete, push each other, help each other out, and it’s been a great first 10 practices for spring ball for sure.”
Maiava and the other quarterbacks have been taking advantage of Huard’s knowledge and experience, soaking up loads of information on a daily basis.
“He’s definitely got a lot on his belt behind him in his history and how he’s grown in his career,” Maiava said of Huard. “Definitely having him in the room just complements all of us. Just being able to learn off of him and he’s done such a great job just coming in every day and handling his business and doing what he’s supposed to do.”
Despite being the youngest quarterback in the group, Longstreet has made an immediate impact in spring camp, showcasing his throwing prowess and ability to pick up the offense swiftly.
Graduating a semester early from high school has given him more time to acclimate to the college level and spend more time with Huard and Maiava.
“He’s a very talented kid. Unbelievable arm talent. Very mature for his age,” Huard said of Longstreet. “I’m just fortunate to be in a great room. He and Jayden, great people, all of us just love football, we love to compete. So when you have a room like that there’s not a lot of drama. Just guys who support each other, compete with each other, makes it a great environment to go into everyday.”
As spring camp progresses the quarterbacks want to do the same, continue to get better each day.
Maiava is pleased with the way the quarterback room is developing so far and said they’ve “made some big strides,” but also said there’s always room for improvement.
TrojanDailyBlog members — We always encourage you to add factual information, insight, divergent opinions, or new topics to the TDB that don’t necessarily pertain to any particular moderator post or member comment.
SUBSCRIBE HERE TO RECEIVE NOTICE OF NEW COMMENTS OR REPLIES.
How could UCLA afford Nico Iamaleava? Understanding the Bruins athletics’ ‘revenue challenge’ Scott Dochterman (The Athletic) — UCLA’s athletic department has spent $200 million more than it has brought in over the last five fiscal years, according to documents obtained by The Athletic through the Freedom of Information Act. Its football ticket sales rank 15th among the Big Ten’s 16 public universities, and its previous media rights deal with the Pac-12 was worth two-thirds less than what its Big Ten brethren received last year. But some of those financial challenges have evaporated since the Bruins joined the Big Ten this year. UCLA… Read more »
Lane Kiffin trolls Miami over Carson Beck’s $4 million NIL deal: ‘Did they watch his game against us?’ Kiffin couldn’t resist prodding at the Canes’ big spending in the portal to get the former Georgia QB Robby Kalland (CBSSports.com) — Carson Beck’s departure from Georgia to Miami this summer created a number of ripple effects as word of his $4 million NIL package helped reset the market once again for quarterbacks. Word of Beck’s NIL package played a role in Nico Iamaleava attempting to renegotiate his deal with Tennessee, which the Vols balked at and led him in the transfer portal seeking a new deal elsewhere. While that drama goes on at… Read more »
You can’t blame Kif for saying it about the over payment and how it’s domino effect affects elsewhere. And that is particularly troublesome. About the only way this can be negated is if the athletes making the big payout don’t earn it on the playing field, that might temper a continual escalation of NIL. But like at Tennessee it causes a train wreck in team unity.
Funny story. Actually more comforting. Last season. It was one of the games recruits were invited to hang during the day, then on the field during the game. Forgot which game. I have aisle seats. Half time many of the potential or signed players, donning usc visitor credentials, were making their way up the coliseum steps from the field. Up comes Husan. One of my seat / section colleagues barks out “Husan, you gonna stay with the Trojans”? The kid smiled and ya I’m here don’t worry. Perhaps naive, but I felt he meant it. Don’t know why. Anyway, got… Read more »
Good to know that SC has three good QBs. Maiava appears to be the front runner for starting the season, but I would expect Longstreet to get playing time early on. Huard has a lot of experience, so he would be a good backup.
I appreciate the NCAA changing the rules concerning injuries. If you have a player down and the medical team services him…..that team is required to take a time out. If no timeouts are left…..a 5 yard penalty. This will keep the folks that want to stop the clock from doing it using these shenanigans.
I had to look it up. I wondered what would happen if team targets a player and injures said player to waste the other team’s time out. Apparently this rule only applies to injuries which show up after the ball is marked ready to play. I get that its intent is to curb fake injuries in order to stop the clock, but still it looks like rule that could double penalize a team. Other changes are also interesting When the decision on instant replay is announced, the referee will only say that the call on the field is “upheld” or… Read more »
Longtime ESPN ‘College GameDay’ analyst Lee Corso to retire after Week 1 Corso, 89, will do one more show before ending his career. When he picked USC to win on GameDay (17 times), he was always right! Nick Bromberg (Yahoo Sports) — The former Louisville, Indiana and Northern Illinois coach joined the network in 1987 after his coaching career was over. He’s been a part of “GameDay” ever since the show started traveling to different campuses in 1993. That show was the first time Corso made his headgear prediction. A former Florida State football player who was roommates with… Read more »
He will be missed by me. I would fast forward through a lot of the show but always watched the headgear prediction. Retiring is a bit overdue for coach but sad none the less. I wonder if the clown McAfee will take over the head gear or if the bit will retire as well.
I’ve always liked Lee “Not so fast, my friend!” Corso. He started the whole Headgear Announcement Thing on GameDay and made it an iconic part of CFB every week in my eyes. He battled on air through serious health issues for many years and still delivered his best despite his later limitations. Corso consistently brought a lot of credibility and singularity to the show IMO. He always tried to be objective (unless his beloved NAVY, where he coached DBs from ’66-68, was playing). There will never be anyone else like him on air for CFB, which is saying a lot… Read more »
The show has become almost unwatchable as Corso has reduced his screen time. MacAfee is a weirdo and overpowers the rest of the set.
I have been watching more of the Fox Saturday show, but they too go over the top with the hype machine. I guess that is what the audience wants these days.🙁
College football recruiting thoughts: USC’s staying power Grace Raynor (The Athletic) — The contact period opened back up Tuesday for college football coaches and official visits are already underway. That can only mean one thing: The fun is about to really start. USC has the nation’s top class at the moment, and this feels like a group that might actually have some staying power. The Trojans have 13 blue-chippers (among the 22 commitments) and perhaps most importantly, 14 prospects from California. That’s more than triple the number of in-state players they signed in the Class of 2025 and should give… Read more »
USC Trojans’ First Transfer Portal Addition: Georgia Tech Guard Kara Dunn Gabriel Duarte (USCTrojansonSI) — After losing four players to transfer portal defections, the Trojans just landed their first big portal transfer, reeling in a four-star GT transfer, guard Kara Dunn. Dunn is a great way to fill a need for Lindsay Gottlieb and USC. All four Trojans that entered the transfer portal were guards, with Dominique Darius and Aaliyah Gayles joining the sudden exit of frosh contributors Avery Howell and Kayleigh Heckel. The former ESPN four-star recruit spent three seasons with the Yellow Jackets. Dunn was arguably the best… Read more »
My GA Tech wife is gonna be pissed at me…. But lately she is pissed at me all the time nowadays. At least I know what she will be pissed at me for tonight.🤔😎
It’s a very cool mascot (alternative to the Yellowjackets). My brother received his Masters in EE during the 80s when ACC basketball was crazy good. We enjoyed some Sat afternoon games on campus in the Alexander Memorial Coliseum. Good times.
How could UCLA afford Nico Iamaleava? Understanding the Bruins athletics’ ‘revenue challenge’ Scott Dochterman (The Athletic) — UCLA’s athletic department has spent $200 million more than it has brought in over the last five fiscal years, according to documents obtained by The Athletic through the Freedom of Information Act. Its football ticket sales rank 15th among the Big Ten’s 16 public universities, and its previous media rights deal with the Pac-12 was worth two-thirds less than what its Big Ten brethren received last year. But some of those financial challenges have evaporated since the Bruins joined the Big Ten this year. UCLA… Read more »
Lane Kiffin trolls Miami over Carson Beck’s $4 million NIL deal: ‘Did they watch his game against us?’ Kiffin couldn’t resist prodding at the Canes’ big spending in the portal to get the former Georgia QB Robby Kalland (CBSSports.com) — Carson Beck’s departure from Georgia to Miami this summer created a number of ripple effects as word of his $4 million NIL package helped reset the market once again for quarterbacks. Word of Beck’s NIL package played a role in Nico Iamaleava attempting to renegotiate his deal with Tennessee, which the Vols balked at and led him in the transfer portal seeking a new deal elsewhere. While that drama goes on at… Read more »
You can’t blame Kif for saying it about the over payment and how it’s domino effect affects elsewhere. And that is particularly troublesome. About the only way this can be negated is if the athletes making the big payout don’t earn it on the playing field, that might temper a continual escalation of NIL. But like at Tennessee it causes a train wreck in team unity.
Kiffin is as much or more entertaining as any coach in college football.
And what he’s done in five years at frequent doormat OLE MISS (44-18) is extraordinary.
Ed O went 10-25 in three seasons at OLE MISS from ’05-07.
Funny story. Actually more comforting. Last season. It was one of the games recruits were invited to hang during the day, then on the field during the game. Forgot which game. I have aisle seats. Half time many of the potential or signed players, donning usc visitor credentials, were making their way up the coliseum steps from the field. Up comes Husan. One of my seat / section colleagues barks out “Husan, you gonna stay with the Trojans”? The kid smiled and ya I’m here don’t worry. Perhaps naive, but I felt he meant it. Don’t know why. Anyway, got… Read more »
Good to know that SC has three good QBs. Maiava appears to be the front runner for starting the season, but I would expect Longstreet to get playing time early on. Huard has a lot of experience, so he would be a good backup.
😂
All they have to worry about is that he might sit out the next regular season game if he is unhappy.
I appreciate the NCAA changing the rules concerning injuries. If you have a player down and the medical team services him…..that team is required to take a time out. If no timeouts are left…..a 5 yard penalty. This will keep the folks that want to stop the clock from doing it using these shenanigans.
Some will call this the “Lane Kiffin Rule”
I had to look it up. I wondered what would happen if team targets a player and injures said player to waste the other team’s time out. Apparently this rule only applies to injuries which show up after the ball is marked ready to play. I get that its intent is to curb fake injuries in order to stop the clock, but still it looks like rule that could double penalize a team. Other changes are also interesting When the decision on instant replay is announced, the referee will only say that the call on the field is “upheld” or… Read more »
No sound or cadence to simulate offensive signals……that is another one that needed to be cleaned up.
Longtime ESPN ‘College GameDay’ analyst Lee Corso to retire after Week 1 Corso, 89, will do one more show before ending his career. When he picked USC to win on GameDay (17 times), he was always right! Nick Bromberg (Yahoo Sports) — The former Louisville, Indiana and Northern Illinois coach joined the network in 1987 after his coaching career was over. He’s been a part of “GameDay” ever since the show started traveling to different campuses in 1993. That show was the first time Corso made his headgear prediction. A former Florida State football player who was roommates with… Read more »
He will be missed by me. I would fast forward through a lot of the show but always watched the headgear prediction. Retiring is a bit overdue for coach but sad none the less. I wonder if the clown McAfee will take over the head gear or if the bit will retire as well.
I’ve always liked Lee “Not so fast, my friend!” Corso. He started the whole Headgear Announcement Thing on GameDay and made it an iconic part of CFB every week in my eyes. He battled on air through serious health issues for many years and still delivered his best despite his later limitations. Corso consistently brought a lot of credibility and singularity to the show IMO. He always tried to be objective (unless his beloved NAVY, where he coached DBs from ’66-68, was playing). There will never be anyone else like him on air for CFB, which is saying a lot… Read more »
I’ve always thought his counterpart in college hoops to be Dick Vitale. They both bring a similar enthusiasm and personality to the game.
The show has become almost unwatchable as Corso has reduced his screen time. MacAfee is a weirdo and overpowers the rest of the set.
I have been watching more of the Fox Saturday show, but they too go over the top with the hype machine. I guess that is what the audience wants these days.🙁
Isn’t that cool! 17-0!
Very!
College football recruiting thoughts: USC’s staying power Grace Raynor (The Athletic) — The contact period opened back up Tuesday for college football coaches and official visits are already underway. That can only mean one thing: The fun is about to really start. USC has the nation’s top class at the moment, and this feels like a group that might actually have some staying power. The Trojans have 13 blue-chippers (among the 22 commitments) and perhaps most importantly, 14 prospects from California. That’s more than triple the number of in-state players they signed in the Class of 2025 and should give… Read more »
Bringing in 35 recruits in the 2026 class will help USC in practice. The practice squad is going to be full of top notch players.
USC Trojans’ First Transfer Portal Addition: Georgia Tech Guard Kara Dunn Gabriel Duarte (USCTrojansonSI) — After losing four players to transfer portal defections, the Trojans just landed their first big portal transfer, reeling in a four-star GT transfer, guard Kara Dunn. Dunn is a great way to fill a need for Lindsay Gottlieb and USC. All four Trojans that entered the transfer portal were guards, with Dominique Darius and Aaliyah Gayles joining the sudden exit of frosh contributors Avery Howell and Kayleigh Heckel. The former ESPN four-star recruit spent three seasons with the Yellow Jackets. Dunn was arguably the best… Read more »
My GA Tech wife is gonna be pissed at me…. But lately she is pissed at me all the time nowadays. At least I know what she will be pissed at me for tonight.🤔😎
The Ramblin’ Wreck from Georgia Tech. I always thought that had a great ring to it.
The Ramblin’ Wreck is a mechanical mascot, a 1930 Ford Model A Sport Coupe, representing Georgia Tech’s engineering heritage.
It’s a very cool mascot (alternative to the Yellowjackets). My brother received his Masters in EE during the 80s when ACC basketball was crazy good. We enjoyed some Sat afternoon games on campus in the Alexander Memorial Coliseum. Good times.
There for a second I thought we were getting some help on the offensive line.
Sorry to get your hopes up. But there’s still time!
😅