Current:Home > reviewsFormer Florida signee Jaden Rashada sues coach Billy Napier and others over failed $14M NIL deal -Wealthify
Former Florida signee Jaden Rashada sues coach Billy Napier and others over failed $14M NIL deal
View
Date:2025-04-12 19:03:58
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Former Florida recruit and current Georgia quarterback Jaden Rashada is suing Gators coach Billy Napier and the program’s top booster over a failed name, image and likeness deal worth nearly $14 million.
The lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Pensacola alleges Napier and booster and automotive technology businessman Hugh Hathcock with fraudulent misrepresentation and inducement, aiding and abetting fraud, civil conspiracy to commit fraud, negligent misrepresentations, tortious inference with a business relationship or contract, aiding and abetting tortious interference and vicarious liability. The complaint seeks a jury trial and damages of at least $10 million.
“Sadly, this type of fraud is becoming more commonplace in the Wild West that is today’s college NIL landscape,” said attorney Rusty Hardin, who is representing Rashada. “Wealthy alumni, consumed by their schools’ athletic programs, are taking advantage of young people by offering them life-changing sums of money, only to renege on their commitments.
“As the first scholar-athlete to take a stand against this egregious behavior, Jaden seeks to hold these defendants accountable for their actions and to expose their as-yet unchecked abuse of power.”
Florida had been under NCAA investigation since last June regarding Rashada’s recruitment. The NCAA asked the school not to conduct its own investigation and said it would notify the institution “soon regarding the projected timeline of the investigation.”
But in March, the NCAA halted investigations into booster-backed collectives or other third parties making NIL compensation deals with Division I athletes.
The Gators may have thought they were off the hook. But Rashada’s lawsuit puts them back in the spotlight, at the very least.
Rashada, who threw for 5,275 yards and 59 touchdowns at Pittsburg (California) High School, initially agreed to play for Miami in the fall of 2022. According to the lawsuit, the Hurricanes promised Rashada a $9.5 million NIL deal.
Napier and Hathcock lured Rashada from his Miami commitment with an NIL deal worth $13.85 million, which violated NCAA bylaws, the suit said. The lawsuit says Napier vouched for the collective and said Rashada would receive $1 million on signing day.
“But before Rashada could arrive on Florida’s campus, the ... contract was terminated — suddenly and without warning,” according to the suit.
Rashada was granted his release a month later after his NIL deal fell through. He later signed with father’s alma mater, Arizona State. He spent one season in Tempe before landing at Florida’s biggest rival, Georgia.
Rashada bailed on Florida after the Gator Collective — an independent fundraising group that was loosely tied to the university and paid student-athletes for use of their NIL — failed to honor a multiyear deal that was signed by both sides.
The bombshell came a little more than two months after Rashada switched his verbal commitment from Miami to Florida. Rashada, his representatives and the Gator Collective had presumably agreed to terms on the lucrative deal at the time of his flip.
The Gator Collective has since been disbanded.
Other defendants include Marcus Castro-Walker, the school’s former director of player engagement and NIL, and Velocity Automotive Solutions LLC, which was owned by Hathcock and was slated to provide most of the funding for Rashada’s deal.
The complaint includes text messages that allegedly document fraudulent promises and inducements, including several telling Rashada’s agent “we look forward to setting him (Rashada) up for life.”
___
AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
veryGood! (26)
Related
- Chief beer officer for Yard House: A side gig that comes with a daily swig.
- Vanessa Hudgens Gives Birth, Welcomes First Baby With Husband Cole Tucker
- There's a reason 'The Bear' makes you anxious: We asked therapists to analyze Carmy
- Sheryl Lee Ralph shelters in Jamaica ahead of Hurricane Beryl: 'Stay inside'
- USA men's volleyball mourns chance at gold after losing 5-set thriller, will go for bronze
- Travis Kelce reveals his biggest fear during his Taylor Swift Eras Tour appearance
- Northern California wildfire does not grow but winds and hot weather could whip up flames
- Here’s how Harris could take over Biden’s campaign cash if he drops out and she runs for president
- Big Lots store closures could exceed 300 nationwide, discount chain reveals in filing
- David Spade visits Kentucky fireworks stand in 'Joe Dirt' homage: Watch the moment
Ranking
- Selena Gomez engaged to Benny Blanco after 1 year together: 'Forever begins now'
- Blue Bell brings back another discontinued ice cream flavor after contentious fan vote
- 2-year-old found dead inside hot car in Georgia, but police say the child wasn't left there
- California man convicted of murder in 2018 stabbing death of gay University of Pennsylvania student
- Louisiana high court temporarily removes Judge Eboni Johnson Rose from Baton Rouge bench amid probe
- At half a mile a week, Texas border wall will take around 30 years and $20 billion to build
- Taylor Lautner's Wife Tay Lautner Shares Breast Cancer Scare
- Lakers sign Bronny James to rookie deal same day as LeBron
Recommendation
Jay Kanter, veteran Hollywood producer and Marlon Brando agent, dies at 97: Reports
Sheryl Lee Ralph shelters in Jamaica ahead of Hurricane Beryl: 'Stay inside'
At half a mile a week, Texas border wall will take around 30 years and $20 billion to build
Federal judge sentences 4 anti-abortion activists for a 2021 Tennessee clinic blockade
What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
Sheryl Lee Ralph shelters in Jamaica ahead of Hurricane Beryl: 'Stay inside'
Copa América quarterfinal power rankings: How far is Brazil behind Argentina and Uruguay?
U.S. woman accused of posing as heiress in scam extradited to the U.K. to face fraud charges