Florida top quarterback recruit Jaden Rashada has not enrolled as the first week of the spring semester ended, putting in doubt his future at the school.
A source confirmed the high schooler’s decision to remain in northern California rather than join the Gators.
Rashada was expected to arrive last week, but a $13 million Name, Image and Likeness deal collapsed.
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Rashada has yet to file a request for release from his national letter of intent signed Dec. 21. Florida has a history of letting an athlete out of a binding commitment.
The 6-foot-4, 185-pound Rashada was the centerpiece and only quarterback in coach Billy Napier’s 2023 class.
The 19-year-old had been expected to enroll Monday after coming to Gainesville from Orlando following the Jan. 3 Under Armour Next All-America game at Camping World Stadium.
After the game, Rashada said he was on a “mission,” planned to add 25 pounds and compete for the starting job.
The promise of a lucrative NIL deal convinced Rashada to change his commitment from Miami to Florida on Nov. 10. On Nov. 12, the Pittsburg, Calif., native attended the Gators’ 38-6 win against South Carolina in the Swamp.
Something seemed amiss, however, when Rashada — the nation’s No. 7 quarterback prospect, per 247Sports — delayed signing his scholarship papers on Early National Signing Day.
Rashada was to compete this spring with Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz, who was 19-13 in three seasons at Wisconsin, and Jack Miller, a 2021 Ohio State transfer who started the Gators’ 30-3 loss to Oregon State during the Dec. 17 Las Vegas Bowl. Rising redshirt freshman Max Brown is Florida’s other scholarship signalcaller.
Rashada can still enroll in classes beyond the Friday deadline, but it is increasingly unlikely he will ever make it to Gainesville.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Edgar Thompson at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @osgators.
