Jaden Rashada has 'never been happier' at Arizona State
Jaden Rashada has found himself at the center of several storylines before ever playing a snap of college football. Even so, the Arizona State quarterback is now in a place where he can leave that all behind and just play ball
Yogi Roth of the Pac-12 Network joined ‘Andy Staples On3’ on Sunday to discuss Rashada’s development out in Tempe. After being involved in several headlines related to name, image, and likeness, Roth said that, after speaking with Rashada over this time period and recently, the Sun Devil’s new starter is doing far better and is ready to let it rip during his freshman campaign.
“I went out to Camp Tontozona, which is where Arizona State went for a few days in training camp, and I just wanted to observe him,” said Roth. “I didn’t call it in the spring, I hadn’t seen Kenny Dillingham’s program yet. You’re watching Drew Pyne and Trenton Bourguet running with the ones and twos. And, as practice ended, I spent a bunch of time with Jaden Rashada. I was with him at Elite 11 when the rumor broke. I was there and it was hard on him.”
“When I sat with him on the sidelines at Camp T post-practice? I said, ‘How are you doing?’ and he goes, ‘I’ve never been happier,'” Roth said. “You look at Kenny Dillingham and what he did at Florida State with a quarterback now that’s up for the Heisman? You look at Kenny Dillingham and what he did with Bo Nix? I’d say (he can do) the same thing with Jaden Rashada. (Rashada) goes, ‘I’m having fun, man.'”
Rashada arrives from Pittsburg, California as a four-star prospect. He was the No. 73 overall recruit in 2023 according to the On3 Industry Ranking. He also finished as the No. 6 QB in the cycle and No. 6 player out of California.
However, after Florida flipped him from Miami, his recruitment took another turn when a reported NIL deal in Gainesville fell through. The Gators then released Rashada from his National Letter of Intent and he ended up with Arizona State soon after.
In the end, Roth believes that roller coaster may have worked out in Rashada’s favor. He gets to play for a program where he’ll truly get to learn while also not necessarily having to deal with the spotlight and criticism that may have come his way at Florida.
“They felt as though he’s been in the best space of his career because he doesn’t have other people’s expectations on him,” said Roth. “I love that Kenny Dillingham and his staff attacked that from day one. I don’t think Jaden Rashada is going to win the Heisman in year one. He’s going to have a ton of ups and downs. But I do think that he’s in a system that’s going to allow him to play free and have fun.”
“And if he was at Florida? If he wasn’t the starter right now and Graham Mertz beat him out? I bet people would be calling him a bust, a piece of whatever. It’d be awful,” Roth said.
Rashada now has a chance to put all of this behind him with his latest opportunity at Arizona State. He could end up making all of his off-field matters an afterthought depending on how he opens the year against Southern Utah and continues on from there.