Sep 27, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) scrambles with the ball during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
Jayden Maiava QB USC |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #14 PLAY STYLE: Pocket Passer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.75 seconds (67%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 23.6 DOB: 04/06/2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #14 | |
| PLAY STYLE: Pocket Passer | |
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.75 seconds (67%*) | |
| Age: 23.6 DOB: 04/06/2003 | |
| Overall Rating: |
86.3 / 100
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|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Release Speed: |
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82% |
| Short Passing: |
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79% |
| Medium Passing: |
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87% |
| Long Passing: |
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74% |
| Rush/Scramble: |
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59% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
1st - Late
Overall Rank:
#30
Position rank:
#7 (QB)
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| College Games: 41 College Snaps: 2589 | ||
ESPN RATING: 79/100
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247 RATING: 85/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.5 (90%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Will Levis - Kentucky |
|
80% |
| Carson Strong - Nevada |
|
77% |
| Kurtis Rourke - Indiana |
|
76% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Jayden Maiava played at Sierra Vista in Las Vegas and Kaimuki in Honolulu, where he threw for 3,317 yards and 41 touchdowns in 2019, then finished at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada, throwing for 2,027 yards and 24 scores as a senior. He was a three-star recruit, and his uncle Kaluka Maiava played linebacker at USC.Maiava started 11 games at UNLV in 2023 and threw for 3,085 yards, earning Mountain West Freshman of the Year honors. He committed to Georgia in January 2024 and flipped to USC a day later, then replaced Miller Moss late that season, winning his first start against Nebraska and throwing four touchdowns in the Las Vegas Bowl win over Texas A&M. In 2025 he started all 13 games, throwing for 3,711 yards and 24 touchdowns but also 10 interceptions, and was a third-team All-Big Ten pick as USC lost the Alamo Bowl to TCU in overtime.
Maiava passed on the 2026 draft to return. He completed 25 of 30 passes against San Jose State and 23 of 25 for 349 yards against Fresno State, threw for 301 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-23 win at Penn State and helped USC beat Ohio State 30-18 on 31 October. He threw two interceptions in the 24-7 loss at Wisconsin and has 2,525 yards, 20 touchdowns and five interceptions in nine games.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Quick release that beats the rush to the throw and keeps him clean
- Cut his interceptions from 10 in 2025 to five through nine games this season
- Won at Penn State with 301 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions
- Completed 23 of 25 passes for 349 yards against Fresno State
- Sturdy frame that takes hits and finishes throws through contact
- Has started at two FBS programs across four seasons, UNLV and USC
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Wisconsin sacked him and forced two first-quarter interceptions in October
- Footwork gets sloppy when the pocket collapses, pulling throws off target
- Locks onto his first read, letting safeties jump the throw
- Offers little as a runner, with negative rushing yards early this season
Scouting Report: Summary
Maiava is an experienced, aggressive thrower with a starting-caliber arm and a quick release that beats the rush. He has started at two FBS programs, won Mountain West Freshman of the Year at UNLV and has now led USC for two full seasons. He is tough in the pocket and buys time to make throws when the structure breaks down. He threw for 3,711 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2025, his first full season as USC's starter.His 2026 season has been his most efficient. He has cut his interceptions in half, with five through nine games after 10 in 2025, and has 20 touchdown passes. The win at Penn State, 301 yards and three touchdowns in front of a hostile crowd, answered a question about how he handles big road games, and he helped USC beat Ohio State on 31 October. He has completed 198 of 302 passes this fall, and the Fresno State game, 23 of 25 for 349 yards, showed how sharp he can be in rhythm.
However, the old habits still show up against good defenses. Wisconsin sacked him repeatedly and picked him off twice in the first quarter of a 24-7 loss, and his footwork gets sloppy when the pocket collapses. He locks onto his first read too long, which lets safeties jump throws, and he offers little as a runner, so he does not punish defenses when they drop eight. He will also be a fourth-year starter who turns 24 in April, older than most of the quarterbacks around him on boards. He has been sacked eight times this season.
Overall, Maiava is a seasoned competitor whose arm can swing a game either way, and his cleaner decisions this fall are exactly the growth his profile needed. He projects as a second-round quarterback whose best case is a quality starter if the improved decision-making holds.
How other scouting services rate Jayden Maiava (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
52.9
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
10.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.