Comparing Jaden Rashada and Jordan Travis

TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State true freshman quarterback Jaden Rashada started the first two games of the season for the Sun Devils. He has now missed the past three weeks with an injury that could have him out for another three weeks.

This season was supposed to be a year of development and growth for Rashada, but that may have to wait until late in the season or next season.

Dillingham compares Jaden Rashada to Jordan Travis

Rashada was a four-star prospect from Pittsburgh coming out of high school. He originally committed to Miami, before switching to Florida, then eventually Arizona State. After a multi-million dollar NIL deal fell apart with the Gators, he decided to join new head coach Kenny Dillingham at ASU. The same school where his father, Harlen Rashada, played.

Dillingham was the offensive coordinator at Florida State during quarterback Jordan Travis’ redshirt freshman and sophomore seasons, 2020 and 2021.

Travis faces adversity at FSU

Travis went into his redshirt sophomore season battling for the starting spot with transfer quarterback McKenzie Milton from UCF. To the surprise of many, Travis won the job. Travis had dreamed of playing for FSU, where his brother had starred on the baseball team.

But in the first game of the season, he threw three interceptions and was booed off the field with under five minutes to play.

Travis told ESPN’s David Hale and Andrea Adelson he was close to quitting football for good.

But Dillingham along with the FSU coaching staff may have revived his career. Dillingham knew the talent he possessed and would check in on him and pick him up for practice every day. He made sure Travis kept his head up and did not give up.

“The kid needed a father figure and I wasn’t there,” Tony Travis told ESPN’s David Hale and Andrea Adelson. “Kenny Dillingham was there 24/7.”

Injury issues for Rashada

Similar to Travis, Rashada began the year battling for the starting position with transfer quarterback Drew Pyne from Notre Dame and redshirt junior Trenton Bourget. Rashada would end up winning the starting spot.

But for the first two games of the season, the offense was not the flashy, dynamic group fans were hoping for. They scored a combined three points in the second half of the first two games and left the home crowd groaning in frustration.

Rashada was announced inactive for ASU’s third game of the season and following the game the news broke that he would be out for four to six weeks. Not ideal.

The Sun Devil’s quarterback room has been decimated with injuries this season seeing three different starting quarterbacks across the first five games.

Jordan Travis’ late-season success

At FSU, nearly a month after Travis left the season opener, Milton went down as well, leaving it to Travis once again. Travis stepped up and told head coach Mike Norvell he was ready to play again.

“Jordan came back at the end of the year and started to flash again, going into the next year,” Dillingham said.

Travis led the Seminoles to win five of their final seven games in 2021, accounting for 17 total touchdowns.

Dillingham and the staff believe in Jaden Rashada

At ASU, it is still up in the air whether Jaden Rashada will return to play this season, or redshirt. He could play in two more games this season to still fit the redshirt threshold.

Regardless, Rashada has shown the potential and talent to develop over the next couple of seasons into a top quarterback across the country. He has confidence, a coach that believes in him, and undeniable raw talent.

“I think Jaden has all the tools to be elite. He’s got a good mindset,” Dillingham said. “He’s got the work ethic. Everybody knows he’s got the tools.”

Travis leading the Seminoles to success

In 2022, Travis started for FSU and led them to a 10-3 season capped off by a 35-32 victory over Oklahoma in the Cheez-It Bowl. The Seminoles won their first four games, then lost three straight to top-25 competition, before finishing the season on a six-game win streak.

Now four games into his senior season at FSU, the Seminoles are 4-0 and ranked fifth in the country. Travis led an upset victory over then-ranked fifth in the country LSU in its season opener. Now he has the fifth shortest odds to win the Heisman.

By no means are these expectations for Rashada, as the young quarterback has yet to play his third game in college. But these are possibilities for Rashada. He has the poise and ability to grow into a great quarterback and lead ASU football out of the darkness.

“He’s got the care level. He loves this place. He loves football,” Dillingham said. “I think there’s tons of parallels between those two.”

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