ASU true freshman Jaden Rashada has been named starting quarterback for the Sun Devils’ season-opening game against Southern Utah on Aug. 31, Sports360AZ has confirmed.
Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro was first to report the quarterback decision.
Rashada is the first true freshman quarterback to start for the Sun Devils since Jayden Daniels did so in 2019 under Herm Edwards.
Rashada was a one-time Florida commit who was released of his National Letter of Intent and signed with the Sun Devils in February. He was the No. 6 ranked quarterback in the 2023 class and had a strong relationship over the years with ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham when Dillingham recruited him at Oregon.
The 6-foot-4, 185-pound quarterback came into a quarterback competition that included incumbent starter Trenton Bourguet and Notre Dame transfer Drew Pyne, who is currently out with a hamstring injury.
Rashada saw extended time in practice since Camp Tontozona, and Dillingham had noted multiple times over the last 10 days how much the young quarterback had grown the more camp had progressed.
“He forced the ball down the field and we hit big plays,” Dillingham said after the team’s scrimmage on Aug. 16. “That’s something we’ve been lacking in fall camp and in general in spring camp. I think we hit three big plays over forty yards today on offense when we really had five series with the (first team)…that’s winning football at this level in this league.”
Dillingham has also been open to adjusting the plan as fall progressed. He called Pyne’s injury a “curveball” and has continued to look at the quarterback competition from all angles.
“All things are on the table,” Dillingham said after practice on Sunday. “My goal is to put the best product on the field to give these seniors the best chance to win football games right now. Whatever avenue that is, we’re going to cross and we’re going to do.”
Who knows who will be under center come Pac-12 play or when November rolls around, but the Sun Devils know who QB1 is nine days from now.
