Miller Moss refuses to back down in USC football QB competition

USC football head coach Lincoln Riley may have his hands full when it comes to the quarterback competition as Miller Moss refuses to give it away to Caleb Williams.

As the Trojans prepare for their annual spring game on Saturday, this quarterback competition is heating up at the right moment.

Moss is a redshirt freshman out of Los Angeles. According to the 2021 247Sports Composite rankings, he was the No.76 overall, No. 12 quarterback, and No. 6 player out of California. That USC recruiting class finished No. 7 in the country and No.2 in the Pac-12.

Miller Moss impresses ahead of USC's spring game.

In a recent 247Sports story, Riley said that he likes the explosiveness Moss brings to the table.
Moss has gotten 50% of the reps this spring, and while most predict Willams will win the job, he isn't making it easy on Riley.

"You could just tell his confidence is really growing," Riley said in an interview with 247Sports. "Quarterback and corner, they are confidence positions. All of them are, but those two especially. He is playing with a lot of confidence right now. It’s been fun to watch. "

- Lincoln Riley to 247Sports

While Williams earned the starting job at Oklahoma after taking it away from Spencer Rattler, Riley needs to really make him work for it at USC. Moss is challenging him, and the reports suggest that he is throwing the ball well. Saturday will be a big test for him to see if he can impress more than Williams, but it isn't impossible.

Riley said that Moss had improved more than any other player on this team. If that statement doesn't excite the head coach — he needs his pulse checked. That hard work is what a coach should want out of his quarterback.

Yes, talent comes into play, but Moss's praise shouldn't go unnoticed. The quote may be something to light a fire under Williams, or it could be genuine. Maybe Riley is that impressed with Moss — he did pick Rattler over Williams at Oklahoma before the season.

The former 4-star quarterback also knows USC football better than Williams. While Riley brought in his own scheme and way of doing things, Moss knows the culture and locker room. Williams still has to earn their trust, and someone like him won't struggle with that.

However, Moss has been around this team longer, which could be something Riley considers. He may not and directly go with Williams because that was his guy at Oklahoma, but the spring game could show something different.

The season is still a few months off, but as the team preps for Saturday, this battle could be something to pay attention to while watching.