Four-star quarterback Jaden Rashada, who signed with Florida on Dec. 21 but failed to report to campus last week because of a name, picture and similarity dispute, asked the NCAA for a scholarship release, sources close to her said of the program The Athletic confirmed. 247Sports was the first to report the filing. Here’s what you need to know:
- Sources said the recruit’s family has been at odds with the football program since the Gator collective canceled a more than $13 million NIL contract.
- Rashada is the #56 recruit in the 2023 class and the #7 quarterback, according to the 247Sports Composite. The Pittsburgh (California) High graduate was among the highest-ranked quarterbacks the Gators have landed in the past decade.
- He signed to Miami in June amid speculation of a $9 million deal, then moved to Florida on November 10.
- While Rashada was attending the Under-Armour All-American event in Orlando last week, his father Harlen told The Athletic that the family headed straight to Gainesville for spring registration.
What happened?
Sources close to the program told The Athletic that a $13 million ZERO deal struck between the Gator Collective and Rashada before moving to Florida in November began to fall apart last month. Rashada eventually signed anyway, publicly sounding excited about moving onto campus and learning the offense. Last week’s enrollment delay was compounded by disputes over the value of a renegotiated NIL deal.
What does this mean for Florida’s quarterback situation?
The Gators recently traded Graham Mertz to Wisconsin and returned fourth-year Jack Miller as a sophomore. They also have Max Brown, a 2022 signee who wore a redshirt last season. But Rashada was the high-profile, big-armed talent who was expected to acclimate and push for an early season this spring.
A 2024 signing of elite quarterback DJ Lagway helps ease the sting, though Rashada’s departure is a public relations headache for the football program. It also sheds light on the dangers sports departments face when NIL deals have to be negotiated by a third party.
“The University of Florida football program is really one of the victims in this case,” said a source familiar with the Gator Collective’s dealings.
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(Photo James Gilbert/Getty Images)