Jaden Rashada is taking his talents to South Beach. Or at least pretty close.
The four-star Pittsburg High quarterback committed this weekend to play for the Hurricanes and former Oregon coach Mario Cristobal after his upcoming senior year.
Rashada is listed as ESPN’s top dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2023 and the No. 5 quarterback overall. He was 146 of 256 for 2,220 yards, 27 touchdowns and just five interceptions last year. Rashada’s Pirates reached the NorCal 1-A regional last season, where they lost to Liberty-Bakersfield.
According to On3NIL.com, a website that reports on NIL deals for college athletes, Rashada agreed to a deal worth $9.5 million in Miami — the largest known deal for a recruit in the year since NCAA athletes gained the right to profit from their name, image and likeness. The report says he turned down an even larger amount from Florida in favor of Miami.
But Rashada released a statement Monday declaring there is no NIL deal: “All reports of my decision involving a NIL deal is inaccurate. I would never make a life/career choice for any monetary value.”
Hurricanes booster John Ruiz, who has reportedly executed NIL deals with more than 115 student-athletes at Miami, dismissed the notion of the record-setting deal, telling The Miami Herald the report was “grossly inaccurate” and that he and an agent are in the process of “discussing a deal” for Rashada.
If he ultimately signs with the Hurricanes, Rashada would be Miami’s second-highest rated incoming quarterback in program history, behind only Miramonte’s (Orinda) Ken Dorsey.
“Playing for a proven head coach in coach Cristobal, who has proven himself as a winner, playing for an offensive coordinator in Josh Gattis (formerly of Michigan), who has proven himself a winner, being in that system, that was appealing to me,” Rashada told 247Sports.
He received scholarship offers from more than 30 schools and visited LSU, Ole Miss Texas A&M and Florida in addition to Miami, per 247Sports.
Rashada made national news in December when he was believed to be the first high school athlete to sign an endorsement deal, with the Athletes in Recruitment app.
He will compete this week as one of 20 finalists in the Elite 11 quarterback camp in Los Angeles. Rashada, four-star Washington commit receiver Rashid Williams and the Pirates will open the fall season Aug. 26 at Bethel.
Want to Address this as rumors are flying around🚨: pic.twitter.com/1sLTfc1lw3
— Jaden Rashada 5️⃣ (@jadenrashada) June 27, 2022
