Jaden Rashada is heading back to the SEC, this time with Mississippi State. The former four-star quarterback has committed to the Bulldogs, marking the latest chapter in what's been one of the more winding - and closely watched - journeys of any signal-caller from the 2023 recruiting class.
Rashada came out of high school as a top-35 national prospect, a polished passer with a big arm and high ceiling. But his recruitment quickly turned into a national storyline after a high-profile NIL deal with Florida reportedly collapsed.
That deal, said to be worth nearly $14 million, never materialized, and Rashada ultimately filed a lawsuit against former Gators head coach Billy Napier and others tied to the failed agreement. The fallout was messy, and it left Rashada looking for a new home before he ever took a snap in Gainesville.
He landed at Arizona State for his freshman season, where he earned the starting job early and made three starts before a knee injury cut his season short. From there, he transferred to Georgia - a move that raised eyebrows given the Bulldogs’ stacked quarterback room - but didn’t see the field. He then moved on to Sacramento State, where he appeared in six games and threw for 264 yards and a touchdown.
Now, with two years of eligibility left, Rashada arrives in Starkville looking for stability - and a chance to finally show what he can do with a full runway. Mississippi State’s offense could use a spark, and Rashada brings a blend of arm talent and mobility that fits well in today’s college game. The Bulldogs are in a bit of a reset mode, and a quarterback with SEC-level tools and something to prove could be just what they need.
It’s been a long road for Rashada - one that’s included legal battles, injuries, and multiple transfers - but the talent has never been in question. If he can stay healthy and settle into the system at Mississippi State, this could be the fresh start that finally lets him tap into the potential that made him such a coveted recruit in the first place.