Who Is USC's 1st Half MVP

USC’s bye week provides the perfect opportunity to take stock of the Trojans at the halfway point of the season, and one question deserves a closer look: Who deserves to be named the team’s MVP? Or is a better question, who has been USC’s most impactful player? There’s a difference, especially when two of the team’s best players have missed significant time. Being the best player on the roster doesn’t necessarily make you the most valuable one.

There are different ways to determine a team’s most valuable player. You can look at statistics, big plays, consistency, availability, or the impact a player has on his team when the game is on the line. Ideally, an MVP checks all those boxes. However, that isn't always how it works.

With USC enjoying its bye week, it's time to look at the first seven games and decide who has been the Trojans' most valuable player. And while there are some legitimate candidates, the answer isn't as clear on one side of the ball as it is on the other.

On defense, it's a tough choice.

The Trojans have had individual players make impact plays, but finding someone who has consistently stood out from week to week is another matter. There have been flashes of production from several players, but not enough sustained dominance to make this an easy decision.

Jide Abasiri deserves consideration, as do Luke Wafle and Alex Graham. But I keep coming back to Jahkeem Stewart.

The numbers don't necessarily jump off the page, and that's partly because Stewart missed USC's first four games of the season. Still, you can see the difference he makes when he's on the field. His presence changes the way opposing offenses have to account for USC's defensive front, and his ability to disrupt plays goes beyond what shows up in the box score.

That's the thing about impact: Sometimes the numbers tell the story, and sometimes you have to watch the game to understand it.

Stewart has made his presence felt since returning, but with the limited sample size and the inconsistency across the defense, I'm not ready to declare him the clear-cut defensive MVP.

The offensive side of the ball is a different story.

I lean toward running back King Miller or quarterback Jayden Maiava, primarily because of their overall contributions, their availability, and what they've done in critical situations.

Neither has missed time, and when USC has needed a big throw or a tough run to move the chains, both have delivered. Miller has given the Trojans a dependable presence in the running game, while Maiava has been the quarterback responsible for getting the offense where it needs to go. Their value isn't limited to the numbers they accumulate. It's also about being there when the team needs them most.

But that doesn't mean Trent Mosley isn't vital to the offense's identity. In fact, his three-game absence due to injury made it pretty clear just how much the Trojans missed him.

Despite playing in only four of USC's seven games, Mosley is right behind fellow freshman Kayden Dixon-Wyatt for the team lead in receptions and receiving yards. And his return against Penn State looked as though he'd never missed a game.

The chemistry and timing between Mosley and Maiava were evident on the opening drive, when the two connected for a touchdown. Mosley made his presence felt on the biggest stage, finishing with nine catches for 111 yards in USC's 31–23 road victory.

That's a significant contribution in any game, but particularly in a Whiteout environment against a ranked opponent.

Mosley is also doing something that deserves more attention. Through his first four career games, he's established USC true-freshman records with 22 receptions, 366 receiving yards, five touchdowns, and an average of 91.5 receiving yards per game.

That's impressive production for any freshman at any school.

However, USC isn't just any school. The Trojans have produced some pretty good receivers over the years, including Robert Woods, Marqise Lee, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Makai Lemon. And there are a couple of Biletnikoff Award winners among that group, by the way.

That's some company for a true freshman to be keeping.

So, is Mosley USC's offensive MVP?

I'm still leaning toward Miller or Maiava because of their overall impact, their consistency, and the situations in which they've delivered. They've been available throughout the first half of the season, and both have played critical roles in keeping the offense productive.

However, I'm not going to die on that hill. Mosley has made this a much closer conversation than anyone should have expected from a freshman who has played in just four games.

And that might be the most telling part of the entire discussion. When a player misses nearly half the season and still puts himself in the MVP conversation, you know he's doing something special.