Reports: Jaden Rashada requests release from NLI with Florida, father denies
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida four-star quarterback Jaden Rashada has requested to be released from his National Letter of Intent per Pete Nakos of On3.
That report was refuted on Wednesday by Harlan Rashada, Jaden’s father. Gators Online was informed by a source that the report Rashada and Scott Stricklin spoke this week is inaccurate and that Stricklin hasn’t spoken with Rashada since his unofficial visit to Florida for the South Carolina game in November.
OnlyGators.com’s Adam Silverstein, the Director of Editorial at 247Sports, is also reporting that Rashada requested a release from his NLI on Wednesday.
Rashada initially committed to Miami before flipping to Florida after midnight on November 11. He attended the South Carolina game that weekend. During Under Armour All-America week, Rashada told Gator Online’s Corey Bender that he would leave Orlando and go directly to Gainesville.
On Early Signing Day, Napier also said he expected that Rashada would be in Gainesville and enroll with the rest of the midyear signees. That never came to fruition. Nakos reported, and Gators Online can confirm, that the issue stems from missteps in Rashada’s NIL agreement and negotiations.
The Gators have four quarterbacks on the roster and only three scholarship quarterbacks. Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz is enrolled and will compete with Jack Miller for the starting job. Redshirt freshman Max Brown and preferred walk-on Parker Leise fill out the room.
A rollercoaster recruitment for Jaden Rashada
Gator Online’s Zach Abolverdi compiled a complete list of Rashada’s recruitment.
Here is a timeline of his recruiting process to this point.
March 31: Rashada checks out the Miami Hurricanes for the first time on an unofficial visit.
April 22: Rashada takes his first official visit to Ole Miss, marking his fourth trip to Oxford.
May 15: Rashada names his top 7 schools, including Florida, and sets his commitment date for June 18.
May 25: Rashada makes a two-day trip to Gainesville for his first-ever unofficial visit to Florida.
June 3: Rashada travels to Texas A&M for his second official visit and only trip to College Station.
June 5: Rashada takes his third official visit to LSU and second trip to Baton Rouge in six weeks.
June 7: Rashada makes a return trip to Gainesville for his official visit with the Gators.
June 16: Rashada pushes back his commitment to June 26 for “more time to think and reflect.”
June 21: Rashada returns to Miami for his fifth and final official visit ahead of his decision date.
June 26: Rashada commits to Miami over Florida, LSU, Ole Miss and Texas A&M.
Nov. 9: Longtime UF donor and founder of the NIL collective Gator Guard, Hugh Hathcock, announces big news coming the next day.
Nov. 10: Rashada flips his commitment from Miami to Florida, tweeting out the news just after midnight.
Dec. 21: The wait for Rashada’s letter of intent causes Billy Napier’s news conference to be delayed over an hour, but he eventually signs early with the Gators.
Dec. 29: After Napier said Rashada would “come right over” to UF after the Under Armour All-America Game, the QB signee confirmed his plans to arrive Jan. 5.
Jan. 8-9: Rashada does not report to campus with the other mid-year enrollees for move-in day and the start of classes Monday.
Jan. 11: Rashada reportedly requests to be released from his National Letter of Intent that he signed on early Signing Day.
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![Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier celebrates with Florida Gators wide receiver Aidan Mizell (11) after a touchdown during the first half at the Orange and Blue spring football game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 13, 2024. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://on3static.com/cdn-cgi/image/height=215,width=393,quality=90,fit=cover,gravity=0.5x0.5/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/04/13155133/Untitled-design-65-2.png)