USC quarterback Miller Moss grateful to be given fair shot under Lincoln Riley

Miller Moss simply needed a good shot. That’s all he may ask for final December, when Lincoln Riley first took the reins at USC, and it nonetheless was his lone request come February, when essentially the most coveted quarterback in faculty soccer joined the fold.

Two months later, there’s no query that Caleb Williams will open subsequent season as USC’s beginning quarterback. Any competitors underneath heart this spring will keep it up with heavy air quotes connected.

However for Moss, as soon as a coveted prospect in his personal proper, there’s little question in his thoughts that he’s gotten the honest shake he requested for.

“Completely,” Moss stated. “Coach Riley has been nice. He’s been trustworthy and open with us about all the pieces. Actually, he actually invests in his quarterbacks. That’s one thing that’s been refreshing, and I actually respect it.”

That line of communication was opened quickly after Riley arrived. He was trustworthy with Moss about his quarterback plans. So whereas Jaxson Dart opted to enter the switch portal in January, finally settling at Mississippi, Moss, who twice modified excessive colleges, selected to remain at USC.

Williams visited USC that very same early January weekend. However earlier than he was on USC’s campus, Riley referred to as Moss to tell him, “which I didn’t count on,” Moss stated.

The honesty made Williams’ arrival all of the extra palatable for a passer now compelled to compete with him. The possibility to study from a coach identified for growing quarterbacks didn’t harm both.

The 2 younger passers have cut up their reps equally between USC’s first- and second-team offenses this spring. Whereas Williams has spent that point making an attempt to hone the finer factors of Riley’s offense, Moss nonetheless is digesting a system that has much more meat on the bone than he noticed as a freshman.

“The toughest half is Coach Riley is so artistic, so that you by no means know what sort of wrinkles he’s going to throw in there,” Moss stated. “I feel that’s additionally most likely essentially the most enjoyable and entertaining half about it. You by no means know what sort of stuff he’s throwing within the set up for that day. You actually have to remain on high of your stuff. It’s a must to examine. You may’t simply depart this follow, go dwelling, eat, and activate Netflix and hang around till tomorrow. It’s a must to get into your playbook and make investments as a result of when you don’t, you’re going to return out right here and look foolish.”

He’s not the one one who feels that manner. Even Williams stated Tuesday that he doesn’t really feel he has “a full grasp” of Riley’s offense firstly of his second 12 months on the helm.

“There’s all the time one thing to study, one thing the place I might be higher at,” Williams stated. “So I imply that may take Tom Brady years, and I can’t be in faculty for Tom Brady years. So I’m not at that time, however I’m working actually onerous to attempt to attain that time.”

As the one two scholarship quarterbacks at the moment on USC’s roster, each might want to stand up to hurry this summer time. Riley additionally may look so as to add depth on the place by way of the switch portal — simply in case that depth is required subsequent season.

It definitely was final season, as USC discovered itself right down to its third-string quarterback, Moss, for its finale towards California. Moss completed that recreation simply eight for 13 for 74 yards, a landing and a misplaced fumble.

Consistency has been his important focus since. To this point this spring, he’s not less than acquired constant consideration from USC’s coach.

“Coach Riley has actually harped on this in our conferences, however eliminating the unhealthy is sort of as essential as how good the nice is,” Moss stated. “So simply eliminating destructive performs, realizing when to throw it away, realizing tips on how to handle recreation conditions, actually studying tips on how to function inside the system — these issues make big variations in faculty video games, whereas in highschool it may not harm you as a lot. In order that’s actually been a degree of emphasis.”

And many others.

USC is now the final Soccer Bowl Subdivision (FBS) program that has by no means scheduled a Soccer Championship Subdivision (FCS) workforce, after Notre Dame introduced Tuesday that it will play Tennessee State in 2023.