Jayden Maiava Scouting Report
By: Michael Higgins
(Image courtesy of Ethan Thai/Daily Trojan)
School: USC
Class: Fifth Year
Position: QB
HT: 6’4
WT: 225 lbs
Background: Jayden Maiava was a 3-star QB in the class of 2022. Maiava was a top 55 QB and a top 15 player in Nevada in his recruiting class. Originally from Palolo, Hawai’i, Maiava’s family moved back and forth from Hawai’i and Nevada throughout his early years. Jayden prepped at Sierra Vista High School in Nevada as a freshman before returning to Hawai’i to play his sophomore and junior seasons for Kaimuki High School. He finished his high school career at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada. He led Liberty to the state title game after throwing for 2,027 yards and 24 touchdowns as a senior. His numbers were good enough to earn him all-league honors. Out of high school, Maiava chose to stay in-state and play for UNLV.
College: Jayden redshirted in 2022 before taking over as the starter in 2023. He led UNLV to their most wins in decades and their first-ever appearance in the Mountain West Championship. As a redshirt freshman for UNLV, he passed for 3,085 yards and 17 touchdowns. Jayden parlayed this prolific season into a transfer to USC. Maiava took over as the Trojans’ starter for the final 4 games of the season, showing what he could do in that role. It wasn’t until 2025 that Jayden took over as the full-time starter. In his first year as a starter, Maiava posted 3,711 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
Strengths: Jayden Maiava has a solid pocket presence that shows up in muddy pockets. Maiava does not let pressure cause panic. He rarely holds onto the ball too long and finds ways to get the throw off with defenders in his face. He combines that with an impressive accuracy to deliver strikes to his receivers’ numbers. Maiava has the arm talent to deliver the football on a rope. Maiava can throw from a variety of arm angles to get the ball through the teeth of the defense. He also possesses some touch on his football to be able to thread the needle. Maiava has the arm strength to deliver the deep ball with the touch to hit his target in stride.
Weaknesses: Maiava does not have the legs to gash defenses on the ground. The idea of him scrambling and abandoning the pocket does not stress defenses or add a new dimension to the offense. When forced to roll out, Maiava’s accuracy goes out the window. He struggles to execute off platform.
Conclusion: Jayden Maiava is a stout presence in the pocket and can succeed in the NFL as a traditional pocket passer. With the NFL moving towards dual-threat quarterbacks, he may struggle to find an offensive scheme to fit his skillset.
Best Team Fits: IND, DET, SEA
Player Comparison: Sam Darnold
Player Grade: Round 4 (66.7)
