Reports: Highly Touted QB Jaden Rashada Might Consider Cal

Highly touted quarterback Jaden Rashada, who drew headlines this week when he requested his release from Florida, may have Cal on his list of new schools he may consider now, according to a report by 247 Sports and two by ESPN.com, one posted Friday morning and another posted Friday evening.

However, Pete Thamel of ESPN.com reported Saturday that Rashada plans to visit Arizona State and TCU.

Source: Former Florida QB committ Jaden Rashada plans to visit TCU next weekend. The Top 30 recruit is on a visit to Arizona State this weekend. Florida granted him a release from his National Letter of Intent earlier this week.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 21, 2023

That does not eliminate the Golden Bears, but it suggests Arizona State and TCU are very much in the competition to get Rashada.

Rashada, a five-star recruit ranked the No. 7 quarterback in the class of 2023 according to 247 Sports and Rivals, is from the Bay Area (Pittsburg, Calif.). He had originally committed to Miami, then switched to Florida and signed with the Gators. Then, he asked to get out of his commitment to Florida reportedly because a $13 million name, image and likeness (NIL) package fell through.

ESPN.com reported Friday that Florida has granted his release, so Rashada is free to choose another school.

Brandon Huffman of 247 Sports notes that three Pac-12 schools may have a shot at Rashada -- Washington, Arizona State and Cal.

He based that to some degree on a conversation he had with Rashada's father, Harlan. Here is an excerpt from that 247 Sports report.

While Rashada chose Florida over Miami in what was a back and forth recruitment that saw him at one point committed to the Hurricanes as well, California was a school that was on his short list and they’ll likely swing away again.

“Cal was like the second school to offer Jaden,” the elder Rashada told 247Sports in the summer. “Great relationship with Cal with offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave and assistant coach Burl Toler has been his guy. It’s home. It’s right in the backyard. I think they’re on the up if they can continue to recruit well and he can help them build a class. I think Cal more than anything is relationship-heavy and his heart is locally with Cal and the relationships with those guys.”

The relationship with Musgrave is no longer a factor since Musgrave was dismissed as the Bears' offensive coordinator with two games left in the 2022 season. It is unknown whether Rashada has any relationship with new Cal offensive coordinator Jake Spavital, who was the head coach at Texas State last season.

Toler is still on the Cal coaching staff.

Also it appears that NIL is an issue in Rashada's recruitment, and it's unclear whether Cal can offer an NIL opportunity that would attract Rashada.

An ESPN.com story detailing Rashada's unusual situation also lists Cal, Washington and Arizona State as possible destinations for Rashada, with this excerpt:

New [ASU] coach Kenny Dillingham doesn't have a quarterback signed in the 2023 class, and it would be close to home for Rashada. Washington is another West Coast school that could get involved, as could Cal, which offered him initially in his recruitment.

A subsequent ESPN.com story lists Washington, Arizona State and Cal as possible landing spots for Rashada, and here is this excerpt regarding the Golden Bears:

Cal might seem like an outlier, but the Golden Bears' staff was one of the first to offer Rashada in high school. The coaches were in on him as a sophomore and had tried to get his commitment throughout.

Campus is closer to home for Rashada in California, and there is a big need at the position.

The coaches saw starter Jack Plummer transfer out after just one season in the program. Backup Kai Millner also transferred out this offseason, leaving Cal searching for help at quarterback.

That leaves the coaches with three-star Fernando Mendoza, who signed in 2022, and TCU transfer Sam Jackson V.

This would be a tremendous opportunity for Rashada if his goal is to play right away. The talent around him wouldn't be at the level of what he would play with at Washington or Arizona State, though, as Cal has lost quite a few players to the portal, including wide receiver J.Michael Sturdivant.

There is also no indication whether Cal would be interested in adding Rashada at this point, since the Bears recently added TCU transfer quarterback Sam Jackson V. It is assumed the Bears would be intertested in a player of Rashada's caliber if he had an interest in Cal.

Cal's spring semester officially began January 10 with classes starting on January 17.

Rashada's finalists before he committed to Miami were Miami, Cal, Oregon, Ole Miss and Texas A&M.

Cover photo of Jaden Rashada by Matt Pendleton, USA TODAY Sports

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