Florida football recruiting: Four-star QB Jaden Rashada commits to Gators, flipping from Miami

By OnlyGators.com Staff
November 11, 2022
Florida football recruiting: Four-star QB Jaden Rashada commits to Gators, flipping from Miami
Football

Image Credit: Leslie White / UAA

One of the most shocking about-faces in the 2023 recruiting cycle came full circle Thursday night as four-star quarterback Jaden Rashada (Pittsburg, CA) announced his commitment to the Florida Gators. In doing so, he flipped from Miami to Florida just over four months after surprisingly pledging to the Hurricanes.

Rashada (6-foot-4, 185 pounds) is the No. 57 overall prospect and seventh-ranked signal caller nationally in the 247Sports Composite. The recruiting service’s internal rankings list him as the nation’s No. 17 overall prospect. He is now the top-rated pledge in the Gators’ Class of 2023.

“Over the past few months, I’ve been weighing my options heavily… I have dreamed of playing SEC football since I was a little kid. After a lot of prayer, conversations with my family and those close to me. I have decided to change my commitment and play for the University of Florida,” Rashada wrote as part of a larger statement on Twitter. “I have tremendous respect for Miami and what they are going to accomplish there but I have watched this season and Coach Napier and his team are building something very special in The Swamp and I want to be a part of it. […] Go Gators!!!”

Coming out of a June 7 visit to UF, it was expected that Rashada would commit to the Gators before the end of the month with most recruiting experts submitting predictions for him to do just that. However, a visit to Miami the week of his decision changed that momentum on a dime. His commitment to the ‘Canes was a massive win on the recruiting trail for Miami and led many to question Florida head coach Billy Napier’s aptitude given it was one of a few decisions that did not go his way in a short window of time.

Over the ensuing weeks, Napier proved doubters wrong and loaded the Gators’ class with a number of blue-chip prospects. Florida found its way into the top 10 nationally, a position it has held for months despite another recent setback when five-star cornerback Cormani McClain (Lakeland, FL) similarly picked UM over UF but in a far more shocking decision.

Bringing Rashada back into the fold is a massive coup for Napier, who is in the process of rebuilding the Gators’ quarterback room. When Rashada initially chose to commit to Miami instead of Florida, Napier reeled in four-star QB Marcus Stokes (Ponte Vedra Beach, FL), similarly flipping him from Penn State. The expectation is that Napier wants both Rashada and Stokes in the class.

Sophomore QB Anthony Richardson is eligible to enter the NFL Draft after this season, though it is unknown whether plans to leave at this time. Behind him, the Gators have redshirt freshmen Jack Miller III and Jalen Kitna. Miller, who was expected to enter the season as Richardson’s backup, had been inactive with a thumb injury. Kitna stepped in and played well in limited reserve action — so well that Kitna has remained listed behind Richardson despite Miller being added back to the depth chart.

Rashada’s commitment boosts Florida one spot back over Miami to No. 8 in the 247Sports Composite team rankings. The Gators now have 19 blue-chip prospects out of 23 commitments in the Class of 2023.

He is actually second flip Napier has executed from an in-state rival over the last 19 days as four-star offensive lineman Roderick Kearney (Orange Park, FL) chose Florida over Florida State back on Oct. 24.

CommitPos.Rating
Kelby Collins (44)
DL*
Ja'Keem Jackson (60)
CB*
Aidan Mizell (102)
WR*
Eugene Wilson (110)
WR*
Dijon Johnson (114)
CB*
Roderick Kearney (116)
OL*
Kamran James (168)
DL*
Will Norman (192)
DL*
Jordan Castell (208)
DB*
Sharif Denson (220)
CB*
TJ Searcy (257)
DL*
Gavin Hill
DL*
Aaron Gates
ATH*
Treyaun Webb
RB*
Andy Jean
WR*
Bryce Thornton
DB*
Jaden Robinson
LB*
Caden Jones
OL
Knijeah Harris
OL*
Bryce Lovett
OL*

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