Jacob Maiava leaned on his older brother, USC starting quarterback Jayden Maiava, for advice before making his first start at center for UCF football. The redshirt freshman called Jayden after practices, seeking reassurance and perspective to manage the nerves that come with stepping into a major role on the offensive line.
“He gave me a FaceTime call and told me to be prepared, to trust the eye in the sky,” Jacob Maiava said in a phone interview with The News-Journal. “That meant a lot coming from him because he’s been through it. He said, ‘You can be nervous. You’re human. After that first play, it’s just like practice. Get it rolling.’ And that’s what it felt like. I got the jitters out.”
Maiava’s first start came in UCF’s game against Georgia State, where the team reshuffled its offensive line due to an injury to Owen Spell, who suffered from plantar fasciitis. Connor Meadows shifted to right guard, opening the door for Maiava to step in at center.
According to Pro Football Focus, Maiava earned the second-highest grade among UCF’s offensive players in that game, posting a 76.7 rating behind only running back Duke Watson. The coaching staff and teammates praised his performance in the week leading up to UCF’s Big 12 opener against TCU on September 26.
“Really proud of Jacob and the way he handled himself in his first start,” offensive coordinator Steve Cooper said. “Obviously, he’s played some, but that was his first meaningful game action. He did a really nice job of keeping the offensive line organized, making the correct IDs and checks. Proud of how he played. … Learning and growing, he’s a young player, and I think he’s just going to continue to get better.”
Right tackle Preston Cushman added: “It’s always a pleasure to be around him. He’s a fireball. His energy just permeates through the whole offense and the offensive line, especially. We know the skill set he has. He’s a really athletic, young player. Just getting him on the right mental space, which he was dialed in during the game, so there were no worries there.”
Maiava’s path to UCF began during his senior year at Kahuku High in Hawaii. Originally committed to SMU, his plans shifted after McKenzie Milton, who had helped establish a strong recruiting pipeline from Hawaii to UCF, made a recruiting visit to Maiava’s home state in January 2025. Milton’s status in the community influenced Maiava’s decision to commit to UCF without an official or unofficial visit to Orlando, despite offers from North Carolina State and UNLV.
“I trusted what he said to me,” Maiava said of Milton. “(Milton) is a celebrity in my town.”
Maiava used his redshirt season last year but appeared for eight snaps over four games, including a notable role at fullback during a touchdown run against Houston. “It was pretty dope, I’m not going to lie, to help my teammates as much as I could on the field,” he said. “To be (out there) as a true freshman, it was an unreal feeling. And it was great to celebrate with the guys.”
This spring, Maiava competed for the starting center position against Michigan State transfer Cooper Terpstra. He also worked closely with returning guard Lokahi Pauole, a former captain with 48 starts on the interior line. Maiava said Pauole’s footwork inspired him to improve his own technique to counter bigger opponents, knowing his smaller frame requires an edge in agility.
“I’m trying to make an emphasis that I can really handle big dudes,” Maiava said. “I feel like I did alright on making that point (against Georgia State).”
With Owen Spell ruled out for the upcoming game against TCU, UCF’s offensive line is expected to remain the same, providing Maiava a chance to solidify his hold on the center spot. The position has seen nine different starters over the last four seasons following Matt Lee’s transfer to Miami in 2023.
“It’s only going up from here. I look at it like that,” Maiava said about his future after his debut start.
According to Yahoo Sports.