Arizona State’s football program has taken blow after blow this week, with QB Jaden Rashada entering the portal, the NCAA handing down severe penalties due to recruiting violations, and now back-to-back receiving leader Elijhah Badger on his way out. While it’s a massive loss for the Sun Devils, it was the right move for the WR. But where will Badger suit up in 2024?
Landing Spots for Elijhah Badger
Badgers joined ASU as a four-star recruit out of Sacramento, Calif., but didn’t play due to academics and caught only seven passes in 2021. However, he exploded in 2022, hauling 70 passes for 866 yards and seven touchdowns.
With average-at-best QB play in 2023, Badger’s numbers dipped, but he was still by far the team’s leading pass catcher, posting a 65-713-3 receiving line. The 6’2″, 190-pound WR also has 18 carries, 111 yards, and three scores on his résumé.
A back injury suffered toward the end of last season has limited Badger during spring practices, but he should be a full-go in the summer. But which teams make the most sense for his skill set?
Texas A&M Aggies
247Sports’ Chris Karpman reported that Texas A&M and Alabama are suitors, so let’s begin there. The Aggies are returning three of their top five WRs from last season (Jahdae Walker, Noah Thomas, and Moose Muhammad III) and added Louisiana Tech’s Cyrus Allen and Troy’s Jabre Barber.
Nevertheless, assuming full health, Badger could challenge for the WR1 role in College Station, giving QB Conner Weigman even more ammunition on the outside.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama’s offense is going to open up with Kalen DeBoer and Nick Sheridan calling the shots, and they have talented WRs in Germie Bernard (brought over from Washington), Kobe Prentice, and Kendrick Law.
However, those three combined for a stat line (65-879-4) that resembles Badger’s down year with Arizona State. The former Sun Devil could come in and insert himself as the top weapon with his experience and obvious physical ability.
Arizona Wildcats
Jedd Fisch and large swaths of his offensive coaching staff and talent left for Washington, but the Wildcats aren’t hung out to dry in their first year in the Big 12. Brent Brennan comes over from San Jose State and has one of the best returning QBs in Noah Fifita.
Brennan and his staff offered Badger a scholarship as a recruit, and new WRs coach Bobby Wade was an offensive analyst with Arizona State the last two years, so Arizona checks the familiarity box. But with Jacob Cowing off to the NFL, there are 100+ targets up for grabs — most of which Badger could handle on his own.
Michigan Wolverines
The Wolverines are fresh off a national championship, which should be a big draw. But more than that, they lost their top two WRs to the NFL (Roman Wilson and Cornelius Johnson), and their most experienced wideouts in terms of age (true junior Tyler Morris and production (true sophomore Semaj Morgan, 22 receptions) are young.
Badger would provide both to the position, and it helps that the Wolverines sought his services in the 2020 recruiting class.
Oregon Ducks
It was a different staff (Mario Cristobal’s), but the Ducks also recruited Badger coming out of high school. Oregon also offers Badger an opportunity to stay on the West Coast and reconnect with former ASU WRs coach Ra’Shaad Samples.
KEEP READING: 2024 Arizona State Sun Devils Football Roster
Still, the Ducks are loaded at WR, with Tez Johnson, Traeshon Holden, and Gary Bryant Jr. returning and Evan Stewart joining the squad from Texas A&M.
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