Film study of Kyler Murray helping USC QB Jayden Maiava during season preparations

People need to be afforded the chance to improve and learn from their mistakes. When discussing Jayden Maiava, there is a significant portion of the fan base that is seemingly unwilling to give the quarterback a fair chance to show that he has indeed improved and developed from the end of last season.

As shared on X by the account i ✯, Maiava knows the areas that need to be better if he is going to lead the Trojans to success in 2025.

During the clip, Maiava mentions how he is studying the tape of Kyler Murray in particular. An aspect that he is focusing on is that Murray would take care of the football and avoid putting the pigskin in harm's way.

This can be a difficult balance. Obviously, turnovers are bad. On the other hand, a team needs a QB who is not playing to avoid making a mistake. Instead, the Trojans need someone who will be willing to make the needed big-time plays while showing the willingness to take a chance, taking a calculated risk at times.

Always playing it safe leads to an inherently lower ceiling. For someone who can be something of a gunslinger, finding that balance is going to continue to be part of Maiava's evolution.

Still, hearing the junior discuss this part of his game and how he is going about studying tape should provide a higher degree of confidence in the USC quarterback.

Potential for USC quarterback

When then adding that Maiava will be able to enjoy being the presumed starter for a full offseason, then the potential of Maiava as the USC QB becomes all the much greater.

Being the quarterback at USC and potentially leading the team to a College Football Playoff push would come on a heightened platform. If Maiava does keep mostly clean and utilizes the full potential of this offense, discussions about being a potential first-round pick or even a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate will need to start happening in a serious manner.