With Caleb Williams now gone, the spotlight shifts to USC’s football program. As the Trojans prepare for a new era, the burning question on everyone’s mind is: who will step up to fill the void left by Williams and carry forward the legacy of USC football?
The spotlight now shifts to who will fill his formidable shoes in the upcoming season. At first glance, it appears that the battle for USC’s starting quarterback position will be waged between redshirt junior Miller Moss and redshirt junior Jake Jensen.
Moss, despite playing second-hand to Williams, Jaxson Dart, and Kedon Slovis over the past two seasons, has shown unwavering dedication to the program. Many of his teammates have empathized with his love and passion for the game and feel he is the next guy to suit up for their team when going into the 2024 season.
“He has been waiting for this opportunity and he believes it is time to take what he deserves for being here with this program through all of the ups and downs,” said USC offensive coordinator Josh Henson.
Riley has lauded Moss’s performance and attitude, praising his improvement as a player. Despite limited opportunities in 2022, Moss demonstrated his capabilities, completing an impressive 85% of his passes in the five games he played.
“If we started today, Moss would start no doubt in mind,” Riley said. “The way he has changed as a player throughout the season is just amazing and he really wants the world to see how much he’s improved.”
In addition to how much Moss has improved, secondary coach, Doug Belk has seen massive advancements in Jensen’s game which has made him a lethal deep-threat passer.
“He’s really been out here at camp practicing his throws and velocities every day,” Belk said. “Jensen loves this game and it shows how much passion he has to be the best and make his teammates proud in any situation.”
To expand on this point, quarterback coach, Luke Huard has been shockingly impressed with Jenson’s growth as a freshman coming into the program.
“Honestly, he’s in such great shape to be a part of this team and we love the energy he brings in every time he comes into practice, Huard said. “He is truly getting pure experience here and I feel it’s putting him on the right track to do what he believes is correct for his football mentality.”
While it may seem that Moss has the upper hand on Jensen, Spencer Jones a graduate assistant for the USC football team claims that decisions still need to be made and fans will have to tune in to see what the final decision is.
“Right now there isn’t an exact set-in-stone decision but I feel with more practice games coming up, the spot for QB1 will be clear and obvious,” Jones said.
While Moss is poised to contend for the starting role, Riley hinted at exploring options in the transfer portal for additional quarterback talent. According to TMZ, “The landscape is evolving rapidly, with notable names like Oklahoma’s Dillon Gabriel and Georgia’s Brock Vandagriff entering the fray. This could really make a difference in what QB the USC football program chooses.”
While pulling a transfer so close to the season opener may appear unlikely, USC’s PR team asserts that it’s not currently their focus, especially considering the lack of rumors or news on the matter. With Moss and Jensen in contention, the Trojans seek to fortify their ranks to ensure a competitive edge in the upcoming season.
As the offseason unfolds, all eyes will be on USC’s quarterback competition, where Moss and Jensen stand poised to vie for the coveted role of leading the Trojans on the gridiron. With the departure of a USC legend like Williams, the stage is set for a new era in USC football, where talent and determination will determine who carries the torch into the future.
“It’s great to have questions like this because it shows how great these players are but, even if Moss looks to be the answer, there truly isn’t a lock until the season starts,” Riley said. “These boys will show how much that QB1 spot means to them and it will only make all the fans much more excited to be a Trojan for this upcoming season.”
Hello everyone my name is Chase Waite! I’m currently focusing on getting my BA in Communications at Cal State University Dominguez Hills and I have an interest in sports reporting. I also truly appreciate the verbal commentary of reporters in the news and sports field with journalism.