Jaden Rashada, a former five-star recruit and last season’s starting quarterback, left the ASU football team on Thursday after entering the transfer portal. Rashada, who transferred from the Florida Gators to the Arizona State Sun Devils in 2023, appeared in four games as a true freshman and recorded 485 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions. However, ASU lost another top-tier player on Friday, who had far more on-field success than Rashada.
According to 247Sports’ Chris Karpman, Sun Devils leading wide receiver Elijhah Badger will use the transfer portal. According to Karpman, Alabama football and the Texas A&M Aggies could be attractive options for Badger. Alabama never offered Badger, but A&M did.
ASU WR Elijhah Badger: Leaving Tempe
After four seasons with ASU football, Elijhah Badger is out in Tempe, Arizona. A four-star prospect and sixth-ranked athlete in the class of 2020, according to 247Sports, committed to ASU over Arizona, Colorado, Florida, and Texas A&M, among others.
Badger did not have a reception in his rookie season before catching seven catches for 61 yards in 2021. Despite the team’s dismal 3-9 record in 2022, the Sacramento, California, native put up career numbers. Badger had a team-high 70 receptions for 866 yards and seven touchdowns. He had two 100-yard receiving games in late October against Stanford and Colorado.
Badger saw a downtick in production last season, with ASU football struggling in the Pac-12. The six-foot-two, 195-pound athlete tallied 65 receptions, 713 yards, and three touchdowns. He also returned 20 kicks for 578 yards. Badger also carried the ball, rushing 11 times for 51 yards and a score.
ASU Football: WR Depth Chart
Karpman believes that, while Elijhah Badger has demonstrated outstanding potential over the past two seasons, his departure will not jeopardize ASU football. The Sun Devils have a spacious receiver room. Jordyn Tyson will now head the wide receivers. Tyson has 22 receptions for 470 yards and four touchdowns with the Colorado Buffaloes last season.
Receivers Troy Omeire, Melquan Stovall, Jake Smith, and Xavier Guillory will also play important roles for ASU next year. Omeire, a Texas Longhorns transfer, caught 20 catches for 223 yards and three touchdowns in his rookie season with the Sun Devils last year. Stovall made 18 receptions in 12 games in 2023, while Smith, a former top prospect and Arizona native, will return to the gridiron following
