One of the most intriguing sagas in the 2023 college football recruiting cycle has officially come to an end. Pittsburg, CA quarterback, the 60th overall prospect in the class per the CFN Fusion recruiting rankings, has signed with the Arizona State Sun Devils in a major coup for new head coach Kenny Dillingham.
Jaden Rashada Commits to Arizona State
Rashada has been one of the major storylines of this entire recruiting cycle. Originally committed to the Miami Hurricanes, the eighth-ranked quarterback in the 2023 recruiting class flipped to the Florida Gators and signed his National Letter of Intent with Bill Napier’s side at the beginning of the early signing period in December.
However, in a sign of the changing world of college football, Rashada asked to be released from his commitment due to reported failures to deliver on NIL promises. Figures of $13 million were allegedly involved in bringing the California native to the Gators. The Pittsburg quarterback officially decommitted from Florida on Jan. 20, 2023.
With his recruitment reopened, Rashada was considered the top option for multiple quarterback-needy teams. He reportedly took a visit to the CFB national championship runners-up TCU on Jan. 28, 2023, and had been heavily linked with Pac-12 programs, including Cal and Washington.
MORE: Top 50 College Football Recruiting Classes 2023
However, Rashada follows a family connection to Tempe following his commitment to Arizona State on National Signing Day. His father, Harlen Rashada, played safety for the Sun Devils under Bruce Snyder in the 1990s. The close links between family and program ensured that Arizona State was one of the first programs to extend a scholarship offer to their new quarterback.
Rashada enters a six-deep Arizona State QB room that lost Jayden Daniels one year ago and Emory Jones this offseason. The Sun Devils dipped into the transfer portal to land Notre Dame product Drew Pyne. However, Rashada offers a genuine long-term future at the position in Dillingham’s offense.
The 6’4″, 175-pound QB has a frame that will facilitate some weight gain, giving him a prototypical quarterback size. Rashada is equally adept at standing tough in the pocket while having the presence and mobility to evade pressure and make plays out of structure. The new Arizona State QB already has an advanced arm, able to get the ball out quickly, with velocity, and throw with impressive anticipation for a young signal-caller.
