Georgia Football adds another Quarterback via the transfer portal
The other night, while everyone was on the CFP National Championship, Georgia Football added another player from the portal. This time, the Dawgs grabbed former UNLV QB Jayden Maiava. Maiava was a redshirt freshman for the Rebels this past season. Maiava threw for 3,085 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Maiava also carried for 277 yards and three touchdowns.
Maiava, originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, played high school in Henderson, Nevada. Maiava was a three-star prospect who chose to go to UNLV. In 2022, Maiava was redshirted 2022 and became a starter on a solid UNLV squad. Maiava looked to transfer out of UNLV shortly after the regular season concluded but finally elected to hit the portal on January 2.
Some Georgia supporters were confused that the Dawgs added another QB, especially with Carson Beck returning for the 2024 season. But Kirby Smart has talked about having four quarterbacks on the roster, and with Maiava, that makes four quarterbacks on the roster.
I will not act like I know much about Maiava or know a ton about UNLV football. I saw some of their games in passing, so with that in mind, I thought Maiava was very excellent for them. Obviously, Maiava feels he can play with the big guys in the SEC, but leaving UNLV, where you are a starter, and coming to Georgia to sit on the bench for a year with no guarantee that you start in 2025 is a head-scratcher. But Maiava is talented, so many fans will be glad he is now with the Dawgs.
This also puts Gunner Stockton’s future with the Dawgs in question. The contest for the number two slot in the QB depth chart will be exciting to watch once spring and fall camp start. Ryan Puglisi, Stockton, and Maiava will all compete for that second place and be poised to take over as the starting after the 2024 season ends.
Lastly, let’s discuss about Kirby Smart’s ability to manage the roster and keep and get the top players to come to Athens. It is fantastic what Smart has done in this still early new age of College football, with N.I.L. and the transfer site. To maintain this much talent and keep the program humming is why Kirby has won two national titles and is one of the top coaches in the country.
