USC Trojans QB Miller Moss Ranked Against New Quarterbacks In Latest Rankings

The USC Trojans just watched one of the greatest QBs in program history, Caleb Williams, get drafted first overall in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. There will now be a new man under center heading into the 2024 season for the first time in the Lincoln Riley era (not including last year’s Bowl Game).

Lincoln Riley has said repeatedly that the starting QB spot is an open competition and a starter will not be named until fall camp, but at the moment, the expectation by all is that Miller Moss will beat out Jayden Maiava for the starting role.

A few days ago, CBS Sports released a deep-dive on the six quarterbacks that would be replacing the six quarterbacks that were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. The author, Blake Brockermeyer , converted a list of scouting reports into shorter “spark notes,” ranking each QB by the likelihood of successfully taking over the team and leading the offense. The ranking was not only based on the QB’s own physical talent but also on the supporting cast around them.

Here was his ranking and where Miller Moss fell in line.

USC Trojans QB Miller Moss Ranked Against New Quarterbacks In Latest Rankings

1. Dillon Gabriel – Oregon

2. Garrett Nussmeier – LSU

3. Miller Moss – USC

4. Max Johnson – North Carolina

5. Will Rogers, Washington

6. Alex Orji, Michigan

As you can see, Miller Moss comes in 3rd in terms of the likelihood of successfully succeeding his predecessor.

Based on production and what we know heading into 2024, I think it is fair to have Gabriel at the top. As a redshirt senior, Gabriel is playing for his third collegiate program after starting his career with UCF before transferring and playing one season at Oklahoma last season. He was First-Team All-Big12 last year and has played in three bowl games during his career. We kind of know what Gabriel’s ceiling is, but the “what we know” is what puts him up top.

Now when you look at Garrett Nussmeier vs Miller Moss, it is purely projection and potential, in my opinion.

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Both Moss and Nussmeier were four-star recruits in the 2021 class. 247 Sports rated Moss as the 15th ranked QB, and Nussmeier as the 19th. Both have had to wait their turn to have the opportunity to start, and both balled out in each of their respective bowl games this past year.

In the ReliaQuest Bowl against Wisconsin, Nussmeier threw for 395 yards and 3 touchdowns, with one interception. In the Holiday Bowl against Louisville, Miller Moss threw for 372 yards and a Holiday Bowl record six touchdowns, with one interception.

Ironically enough, both of these quarterbacks will square off in the first game of the season in Las Vegas. You can’t judge an entire season of play on the first game, but it will certainly be fun to gauge where each of the QBs stand.

Moss will have a very young, but talented offense around him. The receiving corps may be one of the youngest in the country, but also one of the most talented. With playmakers like Zachariah Branch, Ja’Kobi Lane, Makai Lemon, Duce Robinson, Kyron Hudson, and others, Moss will have a bevy of options to spread the ball around. Chemistry and confidence will be the key factors heading into the season.

Moss also has the benefit of playing for Lincoln Riley. All Riley does is produce Heisman-caliber quarterbacks. Will Miller Moss be his next? He will need to officially win the starting job first.

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