Top QB flips to Arizona State
Sanders lures a five-star cornerback to Colorado
The opening of college football’s traditional signing period for high school prospects brought an apparent end to two of the cycle’s most notable recruitments.
Blue-chip quarterback Jaden Rashada, who signed with Florida in December and then asked to be released from the commitment when a name, image and likeness deal fell through, announced Wednesday he is going to Arizona State.
“Glad to truly be home!” Rashada posted on Twitter.
Also in the Pac-12, Cormani McClain, previously committed to Miami, signed with Colorado to make it two straight years that coach Deion Sanders has landed a five-star cornerback.
Rashada’s recruitment made national headlines and became something of a cautionary tale for the college football’s NIL era.
The four-star recruit from California was the focal point of a recruiting fight between Miami and Florida. That led to a bidding war between booster-run collectives that try to secure sponsorship deals for athletes from those schools.
Rashada had originally given a verbal commitment to Miami, but flipped to Florida and signed with the Gators during the early signing period after being offered an NIL deal that could have been worth more than $13 million.
When it became clear that Gator Collective, which is not part of the University of Florida or its athletic department, did not have the money to fund the deal, Rashada asked to be released from his national letter of intent. Florida granted the request.
Gators coach Billy Napier told reporters he could not provide details on what happened with Rashada, but did say he did not anticipate hearing from the NCAA about possible violations of recruiting rules.
“I think the reality is the current structure of NIL with third parties being involved, with agents being involved, with marketing representatives, with lawyers, with collectives, very fluid and I think a very unique dynamic,” Napier said. “I think ultimately NIL is a strength for the Gators.”
Rashada becomes the highest-profile high school recruit in new Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham’s first signing class. The 32-year-old Phoenix native and Arizona State graduate was hired in December.
Rashada’s father, Harlen, was part of Arizona State’s football team in the 1990s. Jaden Rashada called ASU his “childhood dream school.”
“Can’t wait to carry on the family name at the University and start my journey. Forks up!” Rashada posted.
McClain’s recruitment was more traditional in its twists and turns. One of the highest-rated players in the country, he was pursued by most of college football’s most successful programs, including Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State.
The Lakeland, Florida, product committed to Miami last fall, but even then it seemed he might be lured away from the Hurricanes by the Crimson Tide.
Then Coach Prime took over in Boulder, Colorado, and changed the game.
Last year, Sanders made recruiting history when he swayed five-star cornerback Travis Hunter to renege on a verbal commitment to Florida State and sign with Jackson State.
Never before had a player rated that high signed at a school that plays in Division I football’s second tier, the Championship Subdivision.
Colorado hired Sanders to turn around a program that has been stuck near the bottom of the Pac-12 for most of the last decade. McClain visited Boulder last month and soon after committed to become the first five-star to sign with the Buffaloes in more than a decade.
He made it official early on signing day. McClain will join Hunter, who transferred to Colorado, in the Buffs’ secondary.
“First time CU signed two five-star players in the same class,” Sanders said. “Same position, by the way, and both of them are dogs. I can’t wait to see them play together.”
NMSU: New Mexico State announced 10 signings on Wednesday, increasing coach Jerry Kill’s second recruiting class to 38.
Among Wednesday’s additions: Linebacker Jamari Buddin, a transfer from Penn State with three years of eligibility, and cornerback Keonte Glinton, a transfer from Wyoming with two seasons remaining.