Billy Napier and the rest of the Florida staff have been on fire on the recruiting trail as of late, and last night was a terrific example. At 12:07a.m. we received some of the most shocking recruiting news of the 2023 cycle. Long time Miami QB commit Jaden Rashada announced that he would be flipping his commitment to Billy Napier and the University of Florida.
The announcement comes just five days after Miami was beaten down by Florida State to a tune of 45-3. Rashada had been committed to the Hurricanes since June, making him one of the first players to commit to Mario Cristobal. Around an hour before decommitting, Rashada sent a text announcing that he was flipping to a group chat full of other 2023 Miami commits.
When asked about why he decided to decommit, Rashada credits Billy Napier.
“Coach Billy Napier is just a solid and genuine guy and I had a great relationship with him. When I went on my official visit, he just made me feel really comfortable and at home.” – Jaden Rashada
Rashada also stated that he liked the idea of playing in the SEC, stating that the conference “has a great history.” For more quotes from Rashada, click here.
How Does Jaden Rashada Fit into the Current QB Room at Florida?
Jaden Rashada’s commitment brings up questions about the Gators QB room. With Anthony Richardson potentially declaring for the NFL Draft, there is a wide open spot for Rashada to potentially take in year one. It is believed that the starting job would be decided by a QB battle between Jaden Rashada, Jalen Kitna, and Ohio State transfer Jack Miller III.
Should Richardson decide to come back, the QB room could be a little crowded. The Gators have another 2023 QB committed to them in Marcus Stokes. If Anthony Richardson makes a return in Gainesville, we could very well see multiple QBs transfer out if they can’t make a push for playing time.
Where Does Miami Go From Here?
If you are Mario Cristobal, things aren’t looking too good. Year one has been a disaster to say the least, and with the decommitment of Jaden Rashada, you are now scrambling to find a QB. Where do you go? All of the top QBs in the 2023 class are already committed, although you could attempt to make a push and flip somebody like Marcus Stokes or Dylan Lonergan.
However, the much more feasible solution is to find someone in the transfer portal. In this day and age of college football, there will always be someone who is unhappy with their current situation that is looking to transfer. This will be Miami’s best bet to add some depth to their thin QB room.