The college football landscape is becoming more and more aware of the player Jayden Maiava is. He heads into the season as a quarterback with high expectations and few doubts. Yet Maiava still can further drive home the idea that he may be even better than the current consensus on him.
CBS reporter Tom Fornelli put his hat in the mix for yet another quarterback ranking featuring starting quarterback Jayden Maiava. In his ranking of the best Big Ten quarterbacks, Maiava comes in as the 3rd-best quarterback in the conference.
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That is a huge step forward for Maiava, as last season, to start the year, Maiava was viewed as a bottom-tier Big Ten quarterback. Maiava went on to further prove himself and be the highest graded quarterback in the country last season. He was efficient, and he ran Lincoln Riley’s offense exactly how he wanted it to be. He got the ball to his playmakers efficiently, and he finished the season with 3431 yards passing, 23 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. Maiava also finished the season with 6 rushing touchdowns.
It is nice to see that this season, in most rankings, Maiava is at the top of the list in the Big Ten. However, while Maiava still has room to grow, an argument can be made that he should be right up there with Dante Moore Jr. instead of being right behind Julian Sayin. Sayin was put in every position possible to be successful. The defense never put him in the position to win the game himself, neither did his elite playmakers. Seeing that 4 Buckeyes will be drafted in the first 10 picks should be a point alone that hits Sayin’s credibility as the 2nd best quarterback in the cindetrence.
Maiava deserves it so, as he belongs right above TCU star quarterback Josh Hoover, as he has yet to prove he can be that same guy vs Big Ten competition, and even then, Maiava still was the better quarterback last season. Demond Williams may be the most talented quarterback in the Big Ten, but his lack of consistency propels Maiava over him, who was the more consistent and reliable quarterback.
I think Maiava is the 2nd best quarterback in the conference, right behind Dante Moore Jr. I think he will build off of this past great season and have a Heisman candidate season this year with another season with Lincoln Riley. Maiava might not be everyone’s choice as the 2nd best quarterback in the conference this season, but I think his numbers next season will reflect that.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC football’s Jayden Maiava slotted as a top Big Ten quarterback
