The Authentic Spirit of Troy: USC's Resilient Miller Moss

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In the era of the Transfer Portal, USC quarterback Miller Moss has charted his own course, staying put with the Trojans rather than bouncing from school to school. He remained despite circumstances that would have caused others to bolt.

Moss enrolled at USC on Jan. 16, 2021. His first start did not come until nearly three years later, in the Holiday Bowl against Louisville on Dec. 27, 2023, in San Diego. He earned MVP honors in that game after throwing for 372 yards and 6 touchdowns.

After his patience and loyalty, he is USC's starting quarterback heading into the team's inaugural season in the Big Ten Conference.

Miller Moss' Résumé

Moss was a highly regarded prospect in the 2021 recruiting cycle. He was in a class loaded with talent at the QB position, including Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears), Drake Maye (New England Patriots), JJ McCarthy (Minnesota Vikings) and Quinn Ewers (Texas Longhorns). A consensus four-star prospect, Moss was rated above other prominent QBs in the class, including Shedeur Sanders (Colorado Buffaloes), Garrett Nussmeier (LSU Tigers) and Jalen Milroe (Alabama Crimson Tide). ESPN rated Moss the No. 39 overall player and the No. 7 QB in the country. Moss chose USC over Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Oregon and other top programs.

Staying Put

Most of the highly-rated QBs in Moss' 2021 recruiting class transferred at least once, and two of them (Sam Huard and Tyler Buchner) transferred multiple times. Aside from Moss, only two of the elite signal callers (McCarthy and Maye) stayed at the universities where they began playing.

Moss said he has "stayed and stuck it out" at USC because he has "tremendous appreciation" for the university and considers it an "honor" to play for coach Lincoln Riley. Moss has remained patient and loyal during tumultuous times at USC. Coach Clay Helton, who recruited and signed him, was fired in Moss' freshman season. When Williams and Riley came to USC from Oklahoma, Jaxson Dart transferred to Ole Miss, but Moss stayed. When five-star QB Malachai Nelson signed with USC on Dec. 21, 2022, Moss remained. (Nelson has since transferred to Boise State.) And, when Jayden Maiava transferred from UNLV to USC this offseason, Moss stayed put.

His patience and perseverance have paid off. He is USC's starting quarterback for the 2024 season.

Fox Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt released his preseason top 25 on Aug. 6 and ranked USC No. 14. The Trojans kick off their season on Sept. 1 against LSU in Las Vegas.

Moss will be surrounded by an impressive group of playmakers in the 2024 season, including elite sophomore wide receivers Zachariah Branch, Duce Robinson, Ja'Kobi Lane and Makai Lemon. Branch and Robinson were five-star recruits in the 2023 cycle, and Branch earned All-American honors as a return specialist in his freshman season. Moss and this group of elite receivers will be complemented by running back Jo'Quavious "Woody" Marks who transferred to USC from Mississippi State and has been named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List.

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