Jaden Rasada was selected starting QB in the ASU football opener
Freshman quarterback Jaden Rashada will start the Arizona State Sun Devils’ season opener and Kenny Dillingham’s head coaching debut on Aug. 31 against Southern Utah, reports say. Arizona Sports John Gambadoro.
Rashad, a former Florida Gators player, competed with Notre Dame transfer Drew Payne, Sun Devil quarterback Trenton Bourget and BYU transfer Jacob Conover during spring and fall camps to start the job.
Payne, who remained a contender for the position, injured his hamstring during training at Camp Tontozuna on August 12. Since then, Dillingham has spoken about the steps taken in Rashad’s end, especially his ability to hit explosive games in the outfield.
Payne completed 65% of his passes for 2,021 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions for the Fighting Irish last season.
Borget brought his own experience, playing in seven games for the Sun Devils in 2022 and completing 71% of his passes for 1,490 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions.
The 6-foot-4, 185-pound Rashadah threw for 5,275 yards in Pittsburgh last season, with 59 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.
How did Jaden Rashada get to ASU before becoming the starting quarterback?
Rashad is from Pittsburgh, California, and was ranked 44th overall by 247Sports in the 2023 recruiting class. His father, Harlin Rashad, played defensive back at Arizona State (1992-1994).
He was the first senior to get Dillingham, who recruited Rashad as an assistant at Florida State at Tallahassee and then again last year when Dillingham was offensive coordinator at Oregon.
Rashadah’s commitment alone ASU jumped from No. 46 to No. 27 nationally in the pre-signing day rankings.
Florida granted a pilot Release of the National Letter of Intent In January, three days after he requested his release.
Rashad’s decision came after the Gator Collective — an independent fundraising group loosely associated with the university that pays student-athletes to use their name, image and likeness — failed to honor a four-year deal worth more than $13 million, according to a person familiar with the situation. This person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither party has publicly acknowledged the split.
Rashad shifted his verbal commitment from Miami to Florida on November 10. It is assumed that Rashad, his representatives and the Gator Group had agreed to the terms of a lucrative deal for nothing at the time of his coup.
One of Florida’s top supporters, multi-millionaire businessman Hugh Hathcock, tweeted: “Tomorrow is going to be a BIG day for alligator lovers!!!” The night before Rashadah’s announcement. The next day, less than five hours before Rashada went public with his stance, Hathcock tweeted, “It’s OK!!!”. Just a little longer!!!”
The deal collapsed after less than a month. the athlete It reported that the CEO of the Gator Collective, Eddie Rojas, sent a termination letter to Rashada and his representatives on December 7.. It’s unclear why the deal collapsed, but a source familiar with the negotiations told the AP that not all of the financial backers knew the deal inked had increased from about $5 million over four years to more than $13 million.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
