Life after Caleb Williams is starting for USC soccer.
When the Trojans take the sphere for the primary time through the 2024 faculty soccer season, the Lincoln Riley-coached staff might be led onto the sphere by a well-known identify for USC followers — one who waited his flip to turn out to be the following nice USC QB in Miller Moss.
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Moss was a part of the 2021 recruiting class and had solely tried 59 passes as he served because the backup to Williams, the longer term No. 1 general decide within the 2024 NFL draft. Nonetheless, Moss confirmed off his potential through the 2023 DIRECTV Vacation Bowl at Petco Park in San Diego on Dec. 27, 2023.
Making his first profession collegiate begin, Moss threw for 372 passing yards and set Vacation Bowl, USC Bowl and Pac-12 Bowl recreation document with six landing passes. The six TD passes had been additionally probably the most thrown by a Trojan quarterback, who made his first profession begin.
Now Moss will get his likelihood to be the full-time starter and make his second profession begin in a Week 1 marquee recreation for the Trojans in opposition to No. 12 LSU at 7:30 p.m. ET Sunday from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Here is every part you could learn about Moss, together with his determination to stick with USC, his recruitment, stats and extra:
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Why did Miller Moss keep at USC?
After enrolling early, Moss tried simply 13 passes as a real freshman in video games in opposition to Washington State and California through the COVID-shortened 2021 season. Clay Helton, the coach who recruited Moss to USC, was fired on Sept. 13, simply two video games into the season. When starter Kedon Slovis was injured, one other true freshman of the identical recruiting class earned the snaps over Moss because the starter.
Riley was introduced because the Trojans’ coach on Nov. 28, 2001. Straight away, Riley introduced alongside freshman quarterback Caleb Williams, who was rapidly named the starter.
As a sophomore, Moss tried 14 passes through the 2022 season. By his first two seasons, Moss appeared in simply seven video games and made 27 go makes an attempt, all of which got here in rubbish time. As a redshirt freshman, he appeared in opposition to Rice, Fresno State, Arizona State, Colorado, and within the Pac-12 Championship in opposition to Utah. Regardless of Williams returning for his junior season, Moss caught it out with USC heading into his redshirt sophomore yr.
“I really have a ton of affection for this college,” Moss stated at Huge Ten media day. “I’ve a ton of affection for this workers, and clearly a ton of affection for the gamers within the locker room, and I’m utterly dedicated to them. I like this place, and I’m hopefully going to ship much more wins this yr.”
Moss appeared in 4 video games through the common season in opposition to San Jose State, Nevada, Stanford, and Notre Dame. His most intensive motion got here in opposition to the Cardinal, finishing 11 of his 15 passes for 112 yards. He had 134 yards and a landing in opposition to Nevada.
After Williams declared for the 2024 NFL draft ― because the presumptive No. 1 general decide ― on signing day, Riley advised media current that the Trojans would look to signal two quarterbacks from the switch portal.
Miller Moss breaks out in Vacation Bowl
Moss was named because the starter for the Dec. 27 Vacation Bowl in opposition to No. 15 Louisville for the Trojans. In his first profession begin, Moss made historical past along with his efficiency, throwing for 372 yards and 6 touchdowns. The earlier document had been 4 landing passes, which Mopassed on a 12-yard lob to Ja’Kobi Lane within the third quarter to place the Trojans forward 35-21. Moss added his sixth landing with 10 minutes left on a superbly thrown 44-yard strike to Duce Robinson.
The subsequent day, on his drive residence from San Diego to L.A., Moss obtained a telephone name from Riley.
“He was like, ‘Hey, nice job. I simply need to let we’re not going to take an older switch,'” Moss stated to ESPN. “I believe Lincoln actually wished to see me play after which was going to decide as a result of I believe he wished to see if what occurred within the recreation confirmed his apply analysis.”
After the USC spring recreation, Moss was named the frontrunner for the beginning position over UNLV switch Jayden Maiava. Lastly, on Aug. 19 Moss was named because the starter for USC heading into the 2024 season, following three seasons as a backup.
Miller Moss highschool
Moss attended Bishop Alemany Excessive in Mission Hills, California. Throughout his senior season, he was named to the 2020 PrepStar Dream Staff and Southern California Information Group Fab 15 first-team. As a junior, he accomplished 215-of-319 passes (67.4%) for 3,118 yards with 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He additionally rushed for 105 yards on 31 carries (8.8 common) and averaged 38.9 yards on 12 punts to earn the honors of Los Angeles Day by day Information Offensive Participant of the 12 months.
Miller Moss recruiting
As a recruit, Moss was the 76th general recruit within the 2021 recruiting class, per 247 Sports activities Composite rankings. He was the twelfth rank QB in a category that featured Quinn Ewers, Caleb Williams, J.J. McCarthy, Jalen Milroe and Drake Maye, amongst others. Moss was the sixth-ranked participant in California. LSU starter Garrett Nussmeier was the No. 14 QB in that class.
Moss dedicated to USC on June 1, 2020, over Alabama, LSU, and UCLA. Based on his 247 Sports activities web page, Moss held gives from 24 schools. Jaxson Dart was additionally a part of the two-QB class for Helton in 2021.
Miller Moss stats
Here is a have a look at Moss’ stats in his three seasons with USC:
- 2021: 8-for-13 passing, 74 yards, one landing, zero interceptions; three rushes for -14 yards in two video games
- 2022: 12-for-14 passing, 159 yards, one landing, zero interceptions; three rushes for 9 yards in 5 video games
- 2023: 46-for-65 passing, 681 yards, seven touchdowns, one interception; 4 rushes for 32 yards and two touchdowns in 5 video games
- Profession: 66-for-92 passing, 914 yards, 9 touchdowns, one interception; 10 rushes for 27 yards and two touchdowns in 12 video games
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