Now, where will the college football fans go? On one end, the 2025 NFL Draft has been no less than a thriller, coming with one surprise after the other. On the other hand, the transfer portal has reached its last point, as the spring window closes on April 25. While the fans are yet to wrap their heads around the draft, another player chose to swap wagons. That’s none other than the former blue-chip SEC quarterback recruit, Jaden Rashada. With this, his Georgia chapter comes to an end, as he chooses an FCS school this time. That’s when the young chap received a three-word message from his old mate Carson Beck’s mom, Tracy Beck. 

Not a good time for Kirby Smart’s squad! Maybe this transfer portal, both the winter and the spring window, left them with enough trauma. The beginning of the year came with a blow. While Smart was prepared to see his former quarterback star, Beck, fly off to the NFL, he had hit the brakes on his pro-league plans. But poor Georgia! Instead of going back to his old home, Beck established his new address in Miami. Well, the Georgia fanbase is still reeling from that tough loss, a time when Rashada also caused Smart some distress. His search for a new team began in the winter transfer period, though he didn’t land on an ideal fit. Was it a surprise? Not much.

After all, Jaden Rashada’s college career has been marked by transfers and change. He initially committed to Miami but soon flipped to Florida and ultimately joined Arizona State. With the Sun Devils, he played just three games before hitting the ‘SWAP’ button and transferring to Athens in the spring of 2024. Since he never played a snap at UGA, it was part of his plan to compete for a starting job once Beck hit the doors. Marking his fourth school since 2023, Rashada is now set to transfer to Sacramento State.

While the college football world would troll him for not being loyal and choosing an FCS school this time, he had the back of someone special. Beck’s mother has put on her supporter’s jacket and posted an IG story on April 25. Tracy reshared Rashada’s commitment post and wrote, “Proud of you! ❤️❤️🥰🥰.”

It’s true that the pair of now-former Dawgs enjoyed a close bond. Do you remember the clips that went viral after Smart’s boys surprisingly fell 28-10 to Ole Miss in November last season? Beck was captured grinning on the sidelines with his backup QB, Rashada, while the No. 3 Bulldogs trailed 22-10 in the third quarter and the No. 16 Rebels were in the red zone. “My teammate next to me is just trying to cheer me up because we’re down points,” Beck shared about that moment. But now that Beck is away, what made Rashada not jump on the Bulldogs’ train?    

Will fourth time be the charm for Jaden Rashada? 

Luck has not favored the former five-star recruit out of high school in any of his last three schools. He began at Florida but never played for them and even ended up suing them for allegedly failing to live up to the NIL deal they signed him to. The quarterback sued Billy Napier and a booster, claiming they defrauded him with a broken $13.85 million NIL deal. On being released from his Letter of Intent with Florida, his next stop was Arizona State. At ASU, he passed for 485 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions. But missed time due to injury in 2023.

His injury woes continued, as during the 2024 spring, Rashada had a hard time battling a thumb injury before jumping into Georgia. But what made him lose hope in Athens so soon? Perhaps their quarterback room explains it. Somehow, he knows that he will not get a chance to prove himself in Smart’s squad. Right now, it’s more like a Gunner Stockton vs. Ryan Puglisi narrative.

Last season, Stockton kept the second-string quarterback role behind Beck, and Rashada’s third-string role turned to the second-string spot for a brief moment in time. On the other hand, Puglisi overtook his spot as the backup during bowl season after Beck’s injury against Texas in the SEC Championship. Meanwhile, in his mission to find a new home, did Jaden Rashada end up taking a risk?

After all, it’s a new journey for Sacramento State. The program plans to apply to the NCAA to transition from the FCS to the FBS level. On top of that, the Hornets want to make the move as an independent in football. The main motive behind this move? Well, there has been a mass exodus from the FCS over the years. You name them—Sam Houston State, Jacksonville State, Missouri State, along with a couple of others. Plus, as per the reports, the exit fee has been increased from $250,000 to $1 million. No roadmap yet, but Rashada’s already mapping out a new chapter in Sacramento.