James Franklin and anybody else that follows college football knows that USC QB Miller Moss is a rare breed these days.
With the transfer portal, quarterbacks and all players have the option to leave the place they committed to for various reasons, playing time being one of them.
It would have been easy to see Moss taking that path.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder started his college career in 2021, playing behind starter Kedon Slovis. Then, USC hired Lincoln Riley from Oklahoma and Riley brought Caleb Williams with him. After the 2022 season, Williams won the Heisman Trophy. After 2023, he became the first overall pick in the Draft, and everybody knew he would be, including Williams.
This is why Williams decided to opt out of USC’s bowl game, thus giving Moss an opportunity.
He took advantage, throwing a Holiday Bowl record six touchdown passes in USC’s 42-28 win over Louisville.
From there, it was Miller time in LA.
It’s hard to succeed a guy like Williams and since USC is a disappointing 3-2, it’s natural to blame the quarterback.
But Moss has put up solid numbers.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.He’s fifth in the Big Ten in passing yards, has completed 64.5% of his passes and has thrown nine touchdowns to four interceptions.
The Penn State coach commended Moss for sticking it out in an era where many QBs don’t.
“Here’s a guy that I think did it the right way,” Franklin told reporters Wednesday after practice. “He committed to USC, was behind the first pick in the draft, stuck it out, kept learning, got into the bowl game and played really well. And (Moss) knows the system and he’s prepared and he’s ready to go.”
Franklin said Moss “can distribute the ball to his playmakers” and talked up USC’s roster.
“One of the more talented rosters that we’ve played this year,” he said.
James Franklin described Moss as “like your typical West Coast (offense) quarterback that knows how to distribute the ball.”
“He’s poised, he’s calm, he’s confident, he’s accurate,” Franklin said. “He understands the system. He has confidence in the system and is playing really well for them. So I’ve been impressed with him and impressed with the system.”
Neat response here from Penn State HC James Franklin to my question on USC QB Miller Moss.
“Here’s a guy that I think did it the right way. He committed to USC, was behind the first pick in the draft, stuck it out, kept learning, got into the bowl game and played really well.” pic.twitter.com/DTCr4X79kN
— Joe Smeltzer (@joesmeltzer775) October 9, 2024
