Why did Jaden Rashada decommit from Miami? Exploring Georgia Bulldogs QB's decision to flip his commitment
Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jaden Rashada has had an eventful start to his college football career. He was extensively recruited as a four-star recruit in the 2023 recruitment cycle, with elite programs like the Ole Miss Rebels and the LSU Tigers offering him, but ultimately, he was the jewel in the Miami Hurricanes recruitment class under coach Mario Cristobal.
Rashada was heavily pursued by Florida as a prospect, and he almost picked the school in 2022 before committing to Miami in June as he had concerns about an unaffiliated Gators' NIL collective honoring NIL promises. At the time, his agent, Michael Caspino, spoke to On3 about why his client chose the Hurricanes over the Gators, trashing Florida in the process.
“Jaden left millions on the table,” Caspino said. “Millions. He did not pick the highest offer. He went there because he loves Miami, the coaches, and the opportunity.
“Florida is the most dysfunctional collective in all of college football,” Caspino said. “I plan on steering my clients away from them. From my standpoint, I never ever want to deal with them again. If it weren’t for the collective that’s completely dysfunctional at Florida, he probably would have been there.”
Rashada's commitment did not last after the "Gator Collective" reportedly promised him a mouth-watering contract worth $13.85 million in July 2022 to switch his commitment to coach Billy Napier's team.
Jaden Rashada shocked the college football world with his announcement of switching allegiances from Miami to Florida.
"Over the past few months, I’ve been weighing my options heavily… I have dreamed of playing SEC since I was a little kid,” Rashada said in his note announcing the move. “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.”
In May 2024, Jaden Rashada filed a lawsuit against Florida Gators coach Billy Napier, recruitment staffer Marcus Castro-Walker and booster Hugh Hathcock.
In the lawsuit, the Georgia quarterback claims that Florida coach Napier promised him a $1 million payment once he had signed his national letter of intent with the Gators, which convinced him to flip his recruitment from Miami.
Rashada eventually joined the Arizona State Sun Devils for the 2023 season, playing three games. He transferred to the Bulldogs in April 2024.
The contract that lured Jaden Rashada away from Miami
The contract that lured Jaden Rashada from his Miami Hurricanes commitment in June 2022 was obtained by The Athletic and contained eye-catching numbers. The report said that the quarterback was to be paid $500,000 once he signed with the Gators.
Afterward, he would receive $250,000 a month as a freshman, which would rise to $291,666.66 as a sophomore, $375,000 as a junior and $195,833.33 as a senior by the Gator Collective.
The terms of the contract were simple. He had to reside in Florida, sign up to 15 autographs a year, promote a few social media posts on his accounts and attend up to eight fan engagements a year.
The Gator Collective apparently reneged on the first payment of the deal in December 2022, leading to the chain of events that saw Jaden Rashada suing the Florida coach, playing for Arizona State and finally joining the Georgia Bulldogs.