“Thought it was a good effort by our guys today,” U of L coach Jeff Brohm said after the Louisville Cardinals wrapped up their spring football game with a 32–24 win for the offense. That’s the type of head-nod quote you expect in April. But if you looked beyond the box score and scanned the sideline, you’d find something deeper at work, especially under center. Louisville didn’t just see their USC transfer QB Miller Moss throw crisp spirals. They saw him step into leadership in a way that extends far beyond the huddle.

Miller Moss, the former USC Trojan and Bishop Alemany High standout, has planted roots in Louisville. But he hasn’t forgotten where he came from—and recently, that’s come with a heavy heart. The wildfires that ravaged Pacific Palisades this January were among the worst the nation has seen with 12 confirmed deaths and 6,837 structures damaged. LA is going through a difficult time. First it was the fire, now the immigration protests. For Moss, it hit home in every sense. And he’s doing something about it.

“In January, Southern California faced devastating wildfires that caused unimaginable tragedy, including in my hometown of Pacific Palisades,” Moss wrote in a recent post. “The Palisades has always held a special place in my heart, which is why I’m partnering with @flexworkmgt to put on a free youth camp. All donated proceeds will go directly to Palisades fire relief efforts. Use the link in my bio to sign up — see you all on Saturday, July 26 at Beverly Hills HS from 10am – 1pm!”

There’s no NIL deal tied to that camp. No PR spin. Just a QB1 doing what leaders are supposed to do—showing up for the people who helped shape him. That same sense of presence is part of what Miller Moss brings to the field. He enters 2025 with 2,555 passing yards and 18 touchdowns from last season and looks poised to be every bit the QB1 Louisville needs in Year 2 of the Brohm era.

Mechanically, he’s a technician. Miller Moss doesn’t freelance like a backyard gunslinger—he operates from a clean platform, delivering the ball with accuracy, timing, and control. He hits receivers in stride, occasionally throwing them open in rhythm, a skill that comes from hours of footwork, rep work, and film work. The flip side? That mechanical mindset can sometimes limit improvisation. Where others ad-lib, Moss prefers the script. But that may not be a weakness; it may just need the right offensive tempo to unlock.

That’s where Louisville comes in. It’s the same system that helped Tyler Shough shake off early career doubts and become a second-round NFL Draft pick. In the spring game, he commanded the offense with poise and tempo, showing flashes of being more than just a plug-in transfer. He looked like the face of the program. And maybe that’s what makes Miller Moss so intriguing. The locker room already trusts him.

Miller Moss spreads the wealth

For all the headlines Miller Moss has generated off the field lately, his on-field performance in the Cardinals’ spring game reminded fans exactly why he’s QB1 in Louisville. In just five first-half series, the USC transfer threw for 208 yards, found the end zone with ease, and most importantly, showed how many mouths he can feed in Jeff Brohm’s offense.

“I think what’s unique about us offensively is we have a lot of different playmakers in a lot of different positions,” Moss said after the scrimmage. “It’s not necessarily like we have a super heavy running back room compared to our receivers or super heavy receivers compared to our tight ends. So, I think our ability to be balanced and attack defenses just in a bunch of different ways, makes us unique, and hopefully, you know, we can continue to develop in all phases offensively.”

It was a fair assessment, because this UL unit looked fluid, dynamic, and most importantly, layered. That versatility came to life when redshirt freshman Caullin Lacy, who sat out the back half of 2024, stepped onto the field like he never left. He hauled in Moss’ 18-yard touchdown strike and finished the day averaging 16.5 yards per catch, looking every bit like a breakout deep-ball weapon. The projection from experts for the Cardinals’ playoff debut is strong too. CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd cited Moss’s ability to reduce turnovers as potential for 9-10 wins. Sports Illustrated’s Matthew McGavic projected Louisville at 9-3, including an upset over Clemson among their eight home games. Moss, of course, is going to be ‘under center’ of it all!