Class of 2022 recruit Jayden Maiava could be UNLV’s QB of the future

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Friday, July 2, 2021 | 2 a.m.

As UNLV’s three-way quarterback competition continues to extend through the offseason, the solution to that issue may already be in town — just not this year.

Class of 2022 recruit Jayden Maiava committed to UNLV last month, and the 3-star quarterback followed up that announcement by moving from Hawaii to Las Vegas, where he has enrolled at Liberty for his senior season.

If all goes according to plan, Maiava could be the QB of the future for the scarlet and gray.

Maiava was born and raised in Hawaii, except for his freshman year of high school, when he moved to Las Vegas and played one year for Sierra Vista. He returned to Hawaii for his sophomore season and thrived upon his return to the islands, as he passed for more than 3,000 yards and 40 touchdowns for Kaimuki.

His junior year was washed out by the pandemic, but Maiava said he used it as an opportunity to focus on individual improvement.

“I see it as a blessing in disguise,” Maiava said of the lost 2020 season. “It gave me time to get better at my mechanics, get better all-around as a quarterback and become more mature and become a better person on and off the field.”

Though he wasn’t able to play in games in 2020, Maiava remained a coveted recruit. Schools such as Auburn, Louisville and Tennessee offered him, and 247Sports ranks him as the No. 44 quarterback in the Class of 2022.

UNLV head coach Marcus Arroyo took a very active role in recruiting Maiava, and their connection played a big part in Maiava’s eventual commitment.

“Coach Arroyo called me and offered me a scholarship,” Maiava said, “and ever since then, every single day they were hitting me up, checking on my parents, seeing how I was doing, making sure I was staying in shape, making sure I was working out, staying on top of my craft and my mechanics. Every single day we were always talking. We got deeper and deeper and it went from there. UNLV showed me a lot of love. I really trust them. Other colleges hit me up, but UNLV showed me something different.”

Maiava was also intrigued by Arroyo’s history of working with talented quarterbacks.

“Before he got the head coaching job at UNLV he was at Oregon and worked with Justin Herbert,” Maiava said. “He won Rookie of the Year this past season. Having the chance to play for a coach who helped such a highly talented quarterback like Herbert, I want to be a part of that. I want to get there at some point.”

Maiava has been taking part in summer workouts with his new Liberty teammates, with a focus on developing chemistry with his receivers and offensive linemen.

Liberty coach Rich Muraco thinks Maiava will do big things this year and beyond, which should be music to the ears of UNLV fans hoping for a long-term answer at the sport’s most important position.

“He’s exceptional,” Muraco said. “He has everything you want in a quarterback; he’s tall, he’s got tremendous arm talent, he throws a great ball. He’s learning our offense right now, so I expect him to have a great year for us.”

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.