Miller Moss, the nation’s No. 5 QB, commits to USC

It happened. The USC Trojans pulled another rabbit out of their hat and kept local talent Miller Moss not only from the other big-name programs in the country, but also from crosstown rival UCLA.

Moss, who’s final four schools consisted of Alabama, LSU, UCLA and the Trojans, picked USC via his social media account on June 1.

USC head coach Clay Helton has had his fair share of success in the recruiting circle for the class of 2021 but Moss’ commitment to stay local is one of the biggest accomplishments of the offseason.

He is considered the nation’s 52nd-best player overall, the fifth-best pro-style quarterback and the state of California’s seventh-best player overall by 247Sports’ Composite.

Standing at 6’2, 197 pounds and hailing from nearby Bishop Alemany High School, Moss is an Elite 11 finalist and one of the most sought after recruits of the 2021 cycle. He’s on roster for the Under Armour All-America Game and is projected to be a Day 2 draft pick when that time comes.

Moss led his school to the CIF Southern Section Division 3 semifinals a season ago.

As tremendous as it sounds, the pro comparisons have remained true from most sources during his recruitment, with many penning that he reminds them of New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees.

Here’s what 247Sports National Recruiting Analyst Greg Biggins has to say on Moss:

A pure pocket passer with one of the quickest releases in the country. A very cerebral quarterback with a great feel for the position. Extremely poised and never looks nervous or hurried. Has an advanced feel for throwing with timing and anticipation. Shows good arm strength and can rip throws through tight windows. Can continue to improve athletically but has good pocket mobility, can move around, buy time and keeps his eyes down the field. Changes speed and throws with touch and is very accurate down the field. Plays with toughness and will stand in the pocket and take a shot to get the ball out. Projects as an impact upper tier Power 5 starter and future mid-round NFL draft pick.

Moss’ commitment secures the Pac-12 lead for USC by a long shot and supplants them into the top four nationally. Currently, only Ohio State, Clemson and Tennessee have a higher recruiting profile for this class as Helton and his staff have been remarkably consistent with pulling commitments during the coronavirus pandemic.

He spoke with 247Sports as well after the commitment, sounding off on why he chose USC.

“There were a ton of reasons why I chose USC,” Moss said. “I’ve mentioned it before but that’s the school I’ve always wanted to go to. It wasn’t an emotional decision, trust me it was well thought out but end of the day, when I thought about the school I could picture myself at, putting on that jersey and running out of the tunnel, it was always USC. Growing up, that was my school. I think every player who grew up in the Pete Carroll era wanted to play for USC. Mark Sanchez was the first USC quarterback I really remember watching but there were so many of them and then going back and seeing the legacy of quarterbacks the school has produced, it’s pretty amazing. Every quarterback since Carson Palmer has been drafted, that’s a 20 year run and I’m really excited about the opportunity to continue that.”

Moss also stated that he’s close with Helton and become increasingly closer with Graham Harrell as he loves the Air Raid offense and the skill players that are currently on roster and committed for his class.

As nice as it is for the USC recruiting class to stay relevant in the national race, it’s even more important to retain the west coast talent to not only the west coast but as Trojans. Moss was a big target for UCLA but his commitment to USC now sends them back to the drawing board. It also keeps USC above Oregon by a considerable margin for best class in the Pac-12.

Both of those are nearly as big of wins as securing Moss’ services for the next 3-4 years.