Coach Lincoln Riley has made it clear that Jayden Maiava is QB1 for USC. By the time the Trojans exited the locker room coming out of half, however, the head coach had seen enough from the starters. Coach Riley gave the backups and third string ample opportunity to get in on the action and contribute to the win over Missouri State.
True freshman Husan Longstreet took over for Maiava after two quarters and kept the scoring going for the Trojans. An aspect that immediately stood out was Longstreet's ability to use his legs. In something that the coaching staff likely collectively held their breath for, the freshman also showed a willingness to initiate contact and fight for extra yards.