Mississippi State fans are eagerly waiting to see what the final Transfer Portal moves will be for the Bulldogs, and they're specifically looking for additions along the lines of scrimmage. But it seems HC Jeff Lebby is still looking to bolster a position on the roster fans weren't expecting him to.
State has signed former Sacramento State QB Jaden Rashada out of the Portal. The former blue-chip prospect has made stops at Arizona State and Georgia along with the Hornets.
Mississippi State has signed former Arizona State, Georgia and Sacramento State QB Jaden Rashada, @chris_hummer and I have learned pic.twitter.com/qg7lk7cH4B
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 22, 2026
Jaden Rashada's name is one that's certain to stand out to many college football fans, as he was associated with one of the first major NIL stories in the sport. A highly-rated 4-star and No. 6 QB in the Class of 2023, the Pittsburgh, CA native was committed to Miami with, allegedly, a lucrative NIL deal on the table.
In November of 2022, however, Rashada flipped his commitment to Florida, pledging to the Gators in exchange for a reported NIL deal of nearly $14 million. He would sign with Florida, but when that NIL deal fell through, Rashada was released from his national letter of intent in January 2023.
Rashada would sign with Arizona State, winning the starting job as a true freshman. An injury suffered in the Sun Devils' second game would keep him sidelined until the season finale. In three games, he completed 53.7% of his passes for 485 yards with four TDs and three INTs.
Following his freshman season, Rashada transferred to Georgia, planning to backup then-QB Carson Beck before competing for a starting job. During his time with the Bulldogs, he made headlines by filing a lawsuit against then-Florida HC Billy Napier over his failed NIL deal with the Gators. Gunner Stockton ultimately established himself as "next-in-line" in Athens, and with Rashada seeing no action in 2024, he once again hit the Portal.
Jaden Rashada would land with FCS Sacramento State for 2025. He started the season for the Hornets but was benched midway through the second game of the season. He appeared in six games, completing 40.5% of his passes for 264 yards with one TD and one INT.
Embattled Jaden Rashada still a valuable addition for Mississippi State
Jaden Rashada's career has clearly not gone as planned, and it's obvious he is not the QB he was billed to be coming out of high school. However, he's talented enough that he could still prove to be a worthwhile addition for Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs need QB depth behind Kamario Taylor, and though they've already landed an expected No. 2 in AJ Swann, Rashada skillset makes him intriguing enough as another backup option. Swann brings more in-game experience, including in the SEC, and has been the more productive player. But Rashada still has some natural ability that could prove valuable. The 6-4, 183 junior has greater arm talent and, while not a true dual-threat, has enough mobility to evade pressure and scramble.
There's an upside that still exists with Jaden Rashada that might give him an edge over AJ Swann should the Bulldogs need extensive playing time from a backup QB. Bringing him in gives Jeff Lebby another option in the room behind Kamario Taylor. As a depth piece, he makes plenty of sense.