Arizona State to name true freshman Jaden Rashada as its starting quarterback

Jaden Rashada was viewed as one of the top quarterbacks in the country for the class of 2023. After arriving at Arizona State this spring, it didn’t take him long to show why.

Rashada is set to be named the starting quarterback for the Sun Devils after impressing throughout the spring and during preseason camp, according to On3’s Matt Zenitz. He is set to take the first snap when Arizona State hosts Southern Utah on Thursday, Aug. 31.

The former Florida signee was in a battle with Notre Dame transfer Drew Pyne and senior Trenton Bourguet to win the starting job. He opened preseason camp as the No. 3 QB but made play-after-play and worked his way up the depth chart. Pyne is currently sidelined with an injury, which aided Rashada’s climb.

On3’s Matt Zenitz reported on Wednesday that the Arizona State coaching staff was impressed with Rashada and that he “has emerged as a legitimate possibility to be named the starting quarterback entering his true freshman season” with the Sun Devils. As it turns out, that ended up being the case.

“He has an NFL arm,” a source told Zenitz of Rashada. “He can throw the ball 60 yards with a flick of the wrist and has completed several passes over 55 yards where he’s hitting the receivers on the money in stride. This kid has unreal talent.”

Jaden Rashada originally signed with Florida in December, before he was released from his National Letter of Intent following a dispute over the legitimacy of an NIL deal he signed prior to joining the Gators. The deal was reportedly in the range of $13 million over four years.

After the dispute, Rashada was eventually released from his letter of intent. He then signed with Arizona State in February, enrolled in March and attended spring practices.

Rashada was ranked as the No. 6 quarterback and No. 73 overall player in the country for the class of 2023, according to the On3 Industry rankings. He attended Pittsburg High in Pittsburg, California and was a two-year starter.

During his senior season, Rashada accounted for 39 total touchdowns. He passed for 3,055 yards and 32 scores, while rushing for 419 yards and seven touchdowns during that 2022 season. Now he will be the starting quarterback for the Sun Devils in 2023.

“He’s just gotten better, better and better every day,” Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham told local reporters of Rashada earlier this week. “You saw him go out there today and when he’s on the field, explosive plays happen. Now, is there a learning curve with him? Yeah. He didn’t really get many reps in spring ball because he showed up the day before. He didn’t earn the right to be with the ones or twos to begin fall camp, so he started with the threes. But over a period of time, he’s grown and gotten better and better and better and he’s earned the reps to be with the ones. He’s earned the reps to be with the twos. 

“So it’s a matter of watching the tape and seeing: Are his positives and explosives, do they outweigh the young moments that you’re going to have as a young quarterback? And can (we) as a staff control those young moments enough to where we can showcase his talents?”