{"id":8716488,"date":"2023-01-14T10:00:58","date_gmt":"2023-01-14T18:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eastbaytimes.com\/?p=8716488&preview=true&preview_id=8716488"},"modified":"2023-01-17T05:38:59","modified_gmt":"2023-01-17T13:38:59","slug":"the-jaden-rashada-saga-continues-will-the-former-pittsburg-qb-play-for-florida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eastbaytimes.com\/2023\/01\/14\/the-jaden-rashada-saga-continues-will-the-former-pittsburg-qb-play-for-florida\/","title":{"rendered":"The Jaden Rashada saga continues. Will the former Pittsburg QB play for Florida?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Pittsburg High football community has read the same reports that others have this week.<\/p>\n

Jaden Rashada might play for the University of Florida, or he might not.<\/p>\n

It remains unclear after a report surfaced on Wednesday that the five-star quarterback wanted out of the letter of intent he signed last month to play for Florida.<\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, it\u2019s all been hearsay,\u201d Pittsburg coach Charlie Ramirez said Friday night about the whirlwind of speculation that began when On3 Sports reported that Rashada<\/a> asked to be released from his Florida commitment.<\/p>\n

Rashada\u2019s dad, Harlen, denied the On3 Sports report, telling Brandon Huffman of 247Sports that his son hadn\u2019t sought a release<\/a> from the letter of intent.<\/p>\n

Harlen added, \u201cWe\u2019re working through some things right now with Florida and hoping that they get resolved soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

What they\u2019re possibly working through is the fallout from a $13 million Name, Image and Likeness deal that the Athletic reported fell apart<\/a>, citing a program source close to the situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the stuff that Harlen said in Brandon Huffman\u2019s article is probably the most accurate from what we\u2019re hearing,\u201d Ramirez said.<\/p>\n

Rashada, 19, and his father did not reply to messages left by the Bay Area News Group.<\/p>\n

Fair or not, the quarterback who led Pittsburg to a state championship game last fall is a symbol of the wild frontier that the NIL era has become since the NCAA implemented an \u201cinterim\u201d policy in June 2021 that allowed athletes to be paid for endorsement deals.<\/p>\n

Last summer, Rashada reportedly agreed to a $9.5 million NIL deal when he orally committed to the University of Miami.<\/p>\n

Rashada denied those reports, saying on social media, \u201cAny report regarding my commitment to the University of Miami is false unless I was interviewed directly. All reports of my decision involving a NIL deal {are} inaccurate. I would never make a life\/career choice for any monetary value.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I stated in my commitment live on TV I chose Miami because of the relationship I have with the coaches, players, and the direction the program is headed.\u201d<\/p>\n

In November, Rashada flipped to Florida<\/a>.<\/p>\n

He posted on Twitter at that time, \u201cOver the past few months, I\u2019ve been weighing my options heavily. I have dreamed of playing SEC football since I was a little kid. 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have tremendous respect for Miami and what they are going to accomplish there but I have watched this season and coach (Billy) Napier and his (Florida) team are building something very special in The Swamp and I want to be a part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

In December, Rashada signed with Florida.<\/p>\n

After the signing, Napier spoke enthusiastically about his future quarterback.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just think there\u2019s a high level of trust on both ends there,\u201d Napier said. \u201cCan\u2019t compliment Jaden enough relative to who he is as a person, as a leader, his character. Jaden is a guy who came here and fell in love with the University of Florida and really connected with a lot of people here. It was sincere.\u201d<\/p>\n

Back at Pittsburg, the football community is as much in the dark about the latest chapter in the Rashada saga as others.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs everybody else is reading it, we\u2019re reading it as well,\u201d said Ramirez, who was promoted last month from defensive coordinator to head coach after Victor Galli retired.<\/p>\n

Rashada finished his coursework at the high school in December and was planning to be an early college enrollee.<\/p>\n

The deadline to enroll at Florida was Friday night.<\/p>\n

It is not yet known whether Rashada registered for classes. But even if he didn\u2019t, Ramirez said the quarterback could go the traditional route and join the team in the summer.<\/p>\n