In terms of the USC Trojans, the largest speaking level throughout the 2024 season has been quarterback play, as Lincoln Riley’s crew began the yr with redshirt junior Miller Moss on the helm earlier than just lately making a change to UNLV switch Jayden Maiava to finish the yr.
For Riley, it was the primary yr in current historical past that the pinnacle coach didn’t have one in every of his coveted five-star recruits at quarterback, as he had been with Caleb Williams for the previous three seasons, relationship again to his time with the Oklahoma Sooners.
Earlier than that, it was Spencer Rattler, who was the No. 1 recruit within the Class of 2019 and Oklahoma’s starter between 2020 and 2021. In fact, he adopted a trio of NFL quarterbacks in Baker Mayfield, Jalen Hurts, and Kyler Murray.
So, it was a change this yr when Moss earned the beginning job, because it represented a shift from Riley’s traditional quarterbacks, which occurred resulting from former five-star Malachi Nelson transferring to Boise State within the offseason after his true freshman season.
Moss began the yr sturdy, competing arduous and beginning the yr 3-1, with the lone loss coming in a 27-24 defeat to the then-No. 18 Michigan Wolverines. However, turnovers started to plague him over the second half of the season, with a three-interception sport in opposition to the Washington Huskies proving to be the nail within the coffin, as USC dropped its fourth loss in 5 video games.
In consequence, the Trojans switched to Maiava, leading to a 28-20 win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers, getting USC inside one sport of bowl eligibility.
Nevertheless, no matter how the season ends, there’ll undoubtedly be quarterback questions heading into the offseason, with the potential for no less than one signal-caller in USC’s room to enter the switch portal.
And that’s the place a brand new five-star quarterback comes into the combo. Solely it’s not the one Trojans have been anticipating for the previous yr.
Meet Husan Longstreet, Lincoln Riley’s subsequent five-star quarterback and a top-signal caller within the Class of 2025.
Longstreet, a local of Southern California, had lengthy been a decide to Mike Elko and the Texas A&M Aggies after verbally pledging within the spring.
Then again, the Trojans had been tied to five-star Julian Lewis, who dedicated to USC again in August of 2023. Nevertheless, Lewis had actively been visiting different faculties, with many predicting a flip sooner or later, resulting in USC exhibiting continued curiosity in Longstreet, because the Trojans hosted the latter on an official go to in the summertime.
Finally, the playing cards fell how they did, as Lewis de-committed from the Trojans on Sunday and finally picked Colorado. Longstreet then dedicated simply shortly after, leaving USC with a five-star quarterback within the 2025 class, simply not essentially the one they initially imagined for Lincoln Riley’s offense.
Longstreet had been linked to the Trojans since his freshman yr of highschool, growing a relationship with quarterbacks coach Luke Huard that solely continued to develop. However, as Lewis’ focus remained widespread after his dedication, USC targeted on Longstreet as their high quarterback goal, managing to safe a dedication simply shortly earlier than the early signing interval.
Throughout his tenure at USC, Riley has been criticized at occasions for not focusing on the California space sufficient, as a substitute having a extra widespread recruiting focus, which was seen with Lewis, who’s a local of Carrolton, Georgia.
However, with Longstreet, the pinnacle coach managed to maintain the highest quarterback within the 2025 class in-state with the Trojans, serving as a significant recruiting win for USC.
Again in March of 2023, I bought my first take a look at 5⭐️#USC quarterback commit HUSAN LONGSTREET
That was additionally my first alternative to speak with him and his pop Kevin.
There was zero doubt that day about which college he wished to play soccer at.
It was meant to be✌ @On3USC… pic.twitter.com/P0FVXrFxZB
— Scott Schrader (@SSchraderOn3) November 22, 2024
For years, it’s appeared as if Riley has all the time had a plan at quarterback, be it at Oklahoma or USC. There appeared to all the time be a proficient inheritor obvious to each starter, therefore the transition from Baker Mayfield to Kyler Murray, with switch Jalen Hurts within the center. Then got here Spencer Rattler and Caleb Williams, with all 5 quarterbacks being drafted within the NFL.
However, that plan lastly hit a rut within the new period of faculty soccer, as 2023 No. 1 recruit Malachi Nelson elected to switch after his true freshman season, leaving a void on the place, requiring Riley to hit the switch portal to land Maiava and making a quarterback competitors with Moss.
Nevertheless, with Longstreet within the fold, Riley’s plan of getting elite quarterbacks each two years is again in movement, establishing the long run effectively at crucial place in soccer.
