Arizona State quarterback Jaden Rashada has announced he’s entering the transfer portal. Rashada, a top-100 recruit and the No. 7 ranked QB recruit in the Class of 2023, started his first two games during his freshman season with the Sun Devils and appeared in another, throwing for 485 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions.
Rashada initially signed with Florida and agreed to a $13.85 million contract with a Gators collective but asked to be released from his letter of intent after the collective failed to make a payment and terminated the agreement.
In Gods Hands. pic.twitter.com/etjZmjimk7
— Jaden Rashada 5️⃣ (@jadenrashada) April 19, 2024
GO DEEPER
From $13.8M in NIL money to none: A 4-star QB’s unprecedented recruitment
He signed with Arizona State, his father’s alma mater, in February of 2023. The Sun Devils brought in Michigan State transfer Sam Leavitt in the offseason and also return Trenton Bourguet, who made five starts in 2023.
GO DEEPER
‘He’s smiling again’: Arizona State coaches on Jaden Rashada’s next chapter after NIL debacle
Georgia is expected to be the front-runner in this recruitment, a person close to the recruitment told The Athletic. The Bulldogs are seeking a backup to provide depth behind returning starter Carson Beck this year and compete with sophomore Gunner Stockton next year.
Georgia has a need at the position after missing out on five-star recruit Dylan Raiola, who flipped to Nebraska before signing day, as well as UNLV transfer Jayden Maiava, who briefly committed to Georgia before switching to USC.
Why Rashada makes sense for Georgia
Georgia coach Kirby Smart has made no secret of wanting a fourth scholarship quarterback. Even Stockton, who would have to compete with Rashada, endorsed the idea earlier this month.
“Coach Smart’s always said he wants four quarterbacks. That’s the way it probably should be,” Stockton said. “Why not would you want to come here? It should be a battle and a competition every day.”
Stockton had a decent showing in Georgia’s spring game last Saturday, passing for 246 yards, mostly with the second team, with a touchdown and an interception. Freshman Ryan Puglisi, the other scholarship quarterback, did not play because of a minor knee injury.
Adding Rashada would not necessarily mean an end to Stockton’s future at Georgia, especially since Stockton has a year more of overall experience, and two years more in Georgia’s system. But it would certainly be more competition once Beck leaves, and competition to be the No. 2 quarterback this year.
This is about Georgia having competition at the position, and Rashada would be quality competition. The irony of potentially playing against the Gators, his original team before the NIL mess, also cannot be lost on Rashada and Georgia coaches.
Rashada also having four more years of eligibility — he appeared in only three games last season — is also attraction for Georgia. The team just got a commitment from four-star QB Ryan Montgomery for the 2025 class and recently got a commitment from QB Jared Curtis, one of the top players for the 2026 class. A lot can obviously happen, especially in the new world of unlimited transfers. But Rashada’s addition would further bolster a strong quarterback group for the post-Beck era. — Seth Emerson, Georgia senior writer
Required reading
(Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
