ASU football junior quarterback Jayden Daniels entered the NCAA transfer portal Thursday, according to multiple reports.
The decision comes after Daniels announced on social media on Dec. 2, 2021, he would return to the Sun Devils for a fourth season.
Rivals confirmed Daniels' entrance in the portal after SunDevilSource first reported his intention to enter.
Before Daniels entered the portal, people close to the quarterback spoke with other Power 5 schools, including other Pac-12 teams, to assess potential options, according to SunDevilSource.
In his three seasons as the starting quarterback, Daniels threw for 6,025 yards, 32 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 29 games across three seasons.
In his first season in 2019, Daniels threw for 2,943 yards, 17 touchdowns and just two interceptions, leading the Sun Devils to an 8-5 record. He became the first true freshman quarterback in ASU football history to start a season opener.
Daniels regressed through his sophomore and junior seasons. In a COVID-19- impacted 2020 season, Daniels threw for 701 yards, five touchdowns and an interception in five games. In 2021, Daniels threw for 2,380 yards, 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. ASU's offense in 2021 was consistently plagued by turnovers and penalties, which were the key factors in many Sun Devil losses
Daniels' potential departure may become another blow to ASU, which has lost five coordinators amid an NCAA investigation into the program for alleged recruiting violations during the COVID-19 dead period.
READ MORE: ASU football defensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator Antonio Pierce resigns
While there was speculation that the Sun Devils could pursue Arizona native and former Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler, they decided not to after head coach Herm Edwards spoke with Daniels and his mother following the end of the 2021 season, according to SunDevilSource. Rattler later transferred to South Carolina.
If Daniels were to leave ASU, redshirt sophomore Trenton Bourguet would be the only quarterback with playing experience on the team returning to the program. He completed 7 of 10 passes for one touchdown in 2021.
Redshirt freshman Daylin McLemore and freshman Finn Collins plan to return next season. The Sun Devils were also able to recruit transfer quarterback Paul Tyson from Alabama, as well as three-star recruit Bennett Meredith in hopes they can both make an impact on the team.
Reach the reporter at rmastey@asu.edu and follow @MasteyRemy on Twitter.
Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on Twitter.
