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 got 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 ten interceptions. Maiava also rushed for 277 yards and three touchdowns.

Maiava, originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, played high school in Henderson, Nevada. Maiava was a three-star prospect and chose to go to UNLV. In 2022, Maiava was redshirted 2022 and became a starter for a good UNLV team. Maiava looked to transfer out of UNLV right after the regular season ended but ultimately decided to hit the portal on January 2. 

Some Georgia fans were confused by 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 watched some of their games in passing, so with that in mind, I thought Maiava was pretty good for them. Obviously, Maiava thinks he can play with the big boys 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 pleased he is now with the Dawgs. 

This also puts Gunner Stockton's future with the Dawgs in question. The battle for the number two spot in the QB depth chart will be interesting to watch as spring and fall practice start. Ryan Puglisi, Stockton, and Maiava will all compete for that second spot and be primed to take over as the starter once the 2024 season ends. 

Lastly, let's talk about Kirby Smart's ability to manage the roster and keep and get the best players to come to Athens. It is incredible what Smart has done in this still early new age of College football, with N.I.L. and the transfer portal. To retain 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.