Jaden Rashada, quarterback who requested release from Florida after NIL debacle, picks Arizona State
Team Speed quarterback Jaden Rashada (5) before the Under Armour Next All-America Football Game on January 03, 2023, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, FL. (Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
"Just want to start off by thanking the Lord for my journey and the strength to get through whatever was & is put in front of me, thank you to everybody who truly knows me for me!" Rashada posted to Twitter on Wednesday.
"Just want to keep this short and let it be known I’ll be attending Arizona State University, my childhood dream school, my fathers (sic) alma matter (sic), a place where I’m happy and a school where the Head Coach has always had my back! Glad to truly be home! Can’t wait to carry on the family name at the University and start my journey! Forks up!"
Rashada’s commitment is a big get for first-year head coach Kenny Dillingham, who was named the 26th head coach in ASU history in November.
Arizona State Sun Devils helmets during the college football game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils on September 24, 2022 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. (Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
In November, Rashada switched his commitment from Miami to Florida, giving head coach Billy Napier a significant recruit as he enters his second season.
But Rashada’s commitment was contingent on a four-year, $13 million NIL deal that he signed with the Gator Collective fan club, according to the Associated Press.
On Dec. 7, Rashada reportedly received a letter from the head of Gator Collective that wished to terminate the deal, according to a report by The Athletic.
Pittsburg quarterback Jaden Rashada (5) warms up before the start of their game against McClymonds at Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg, Calif., on Sept. 30, 2022. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group via AP)/Bay Area News Group via AP)
While the reasons behind the deal falling apart are unclear, the AP reported that not all of the financial backers were aware that the NIL deal had gone from around $5 million to more than $13 million.
The Gators released Rashada from his letter of intent in January, and he garnered interest from Cal, TCU and Washington.
A name, image and likeness deal did not factor into Rashada’s decision to attend ASU, according to ESPN.