Jaden Richardson didn't need a promise. The former Tufts receiver wanted only one thing when making the jump from Division III: a chance.
“A school that promises you something is never going to be where you really want to be,” the University of Southern California receiver said Tuesday after his fourth spring practice with the Trojans.
Richardson is part of an exclusive transfer group on offense that is expected to increase competition within Heritage Hall as the Trojans enter the next phase of their development under coach Lincoln Riley. .
The coach has relied on large transfer classes to hasten USC's rebuild in his first two years, but has expressed a desire to begin development through high school players. With promising prospects from last year's recruiting class (Riley's first full group at USC), the Trojans signed just three spring transfers on offense.
With Richardson, running back Woody Marks and quarterback Jayden Maiava, the Trojans will look to blend veteran transfer experience with USC homegrown players looking to take the next step in their careers.
Unlike Richardson or Mississippi State's Marks, who holds school records at previous stops, Maiava is not the oldest player in a young room. The redshirt sophomore from Las Vegas, Nevada is competing with redshirt junior Miller Moss for the right to replace Caleb Williams.
Maiava, who threw for 3,085 yards and 17 touchdowns for the Rebels last year, entered the portal looking for an opportunity to “compete with the best.” He initially committed to Georgia, but flipped the next day.
Riley said the Trojans were looking for young players with playing experience, and the staff knew the availability at quarterback would make the transfer even more attractive.
“I love competing,” Maiava said. “I love to go out there and not only bring out the best in myself, but bring out the best in my teammates.”
Maiava, who started 11 games at UNLV, has more game experience than Moss, whose duties before his Holiday Bowl heroics were mostly fourth-quarter mop-up duties. The transfer's time on the field has already appeared in the spring.
“He's a calm kid,” Riley said. “You can tell he's not like a true freshman who just came in with his eyes wide open. He's been playing and learning how to prepare, and you can see it in him.”
Richardson has previous ties to Maiava, having played with his cousins (triplets Michael, Micah and Matthew) at Tufts University, where the 6-foot-1 receiver has 20 career receiving touchdowns for the program. A record was set.
The Bay Area native, who earned a bachelor's degree in economics from a Division III school, drew a lot of interest from FBS programs in the transfer portal. When I got the call from USC, it was a “no surprise”. He and his father, a Southern California native, always supported the school.
“I think it took me a week to be like, 'Wow, this is really real,'” Richardson said. “Right now I'm just sitting there working. Once I get through that part to a certain extent, it's college football at the end.”
USC's receiver room appears to have potential pass catchers Brenden Rice and Taj Washington heading to the NFL. But before Richardson arrived, there were many heirs to the throne. USC sophomore receivers Zachariah Branch, Deuce Robinson, Jacobi Lane and Makai Lemon could all break out. Redshirt junior Kyron Hudson is the most experienced returning receiver, having played in 28 games.
Richardson is just trying to pick his position.
“For me, [I’m] I’m not trying to put myself on a pedestal just because I’m older,” Richardson said. “At the end of the day, it’s just a matter of taking a step back, learning what you can, and contributing.”
USC will rely on Marks, Mississippi State's leader in receiving yards among running backs, with promising sophomores Quinten Joyner and Amarion Peterson combining for just 139 rushing yards in their careers. He provides pace for an inexperienced running back corps. Marks could be the next star transfer running back for Riley, who has already had success at USC with Travis Dye, Marshawn Lloyd and Austin Jones.
“Just USC at the running back position is really great,” Marks said of his decision to join the Trojans. “We've got guys in front of us like Marshawn Lloyd and Reggie Bush who have come up through the ranks. I think this is a special place to get away and play.”
