No. 1 Player in America Commits to Arizona State, Rejects $9.5M Offer and SEC Giants Alabama and Georgia
In a move that stunned the college football world, Jamari “Jet” Reynolds, the consensus No. 1 high school football recruit in America, committed to Arizona State University, turning down a jaw-dropping $9.5 million NIL offer from a yet-unnamed powerhouse and scholarship bids from perennial SEC juggernauts Alabama and Georgia.
Reynolds, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound dual-threat quarterback out of Buford, Georgia, made the announcement live on ESPN from his high school auditorium, draped in maroon and gold. The room fell silent when he reached under the table and pulled out the Arizona State cap, sealing one of the most shocking recruiting decisions in recent memory.
“This is bigger than money,” Reynolds said. “I want to build something that lasts. I don’t want to join a machine—I want to be the engine that powers one.”
Sources close to Reynolds confirmed that a collective from an SEC school—widely speculated to be Alabama—had assembled a $9.5 million NIL deal, including luxury housing, exclusive sponsorships, and equity in a sports-tech startup. Georgia, meanwhile, had offered a path to immediate starting reps and a high-profile mentorship with a former Heisman finalist.
But Reynolds, mature beyond his years, opted for a different path. His commitment represents a massive win for ASU Head Coach Jalen Knox, who took over the program just two years ago with promises to revitalize the Sun Devils through culture, grit, and player empowerment.
“Jamari is a generational talent,” Knox said in a press release. “But even more than that, he’s a generational leader. He sees what we’re building here and he wants to be the face of it.”
Reynolds threw for over 4,300 yards and 48 touchdowns as a senior while rushing for another 1,200 yards and 19 scores. Scouts compare his play style to a hybrid of Cam Newton and Caleb Williams, with uncanny field vision, elite arm strength, and an ability to escape pressure that borders on supernatural.
His decision sent shockwaves through recruiting circles, prompting debates about the future of college football parity in the NIL era. “This changes everything,” said ESPN’s Paul Finebaum. “You don’t turn down $9.5 million and Nick Saban unless you’re wired differently.”
At Arizona State, Reynolds will wear No. 7 and is expected to compete for the starting role immediately. He’ll join a roster filled with promising underclassmen and transfer talent recruited specifically for an up-tempo, RPO-heavy offense tailor-made for his dynamic skillset.
For now, Tempe is the epicenter of college football’s most unlikely revolution—and Jamari Reynolds is its architect.
