Jaden Rashada Suing Billy Napier And Others Over NIL Debacle

The lawsuit claims Coach Napier promised Rashada $1 million if he signed with UF on National Signing Day. Ultimately, Rashada never received the payments that were supposedly agreed upon.

Sixteen months ago, Florida released quarterback Jaden Rashada from his National Letter of Intent after a highly publicized, NIL-fueled breakup. This split is now the center of a lawsuit involving a four-year, $13.85 million NIL contract that led Rashada to flip his commitment from Miami to Florida in November, 2022. According to court documents, the Gators backed out of this unprecedented NIL agreement, leaving Rashada without a school and missing out on millions of dollars.

Rashada, now at Georgia after his freshman year at Arizona State, filed a 37-page complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida. The lawsuit claims that he was repeatedly deceived to get him to switch his commitment from Miami to Florida. Defendants include Gators’ head coach Billy Napier, former Florida director of NIL and player engagement Marcus Castro-Walker, and well-known UF booster Hugh Hathcock. The lawsuit also names Hathcock’s former company, Velocity Automotive, which was supposed to help fund the NIL package.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart was aware of the lawsuit and approved it.

Rashada is suing for fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent inducement, aiding and abetting fraud, civil conspiracy to commit fraud, negligent misrepresentation, tortious interference, aiding and abetting tortious interference, and vicarious liability. The lawsuit offers an unprecedented look into high-level NIL negotiations in college football.

The complaint states, “Defendants’ goals were two-fold: (1) to ensure Jaden remained committed to UF; and (2) to avoid paying the promised NIL funds.”

It claims that defendants exploited the life-changing prospect of NIL earnings for their own advantage. The University of Florida is not named as a defendant, although its head coach and a former employee are. Rashada is represented by attorney Rusty Hardin, known for working with athletes like Warren Moon, Roger Clemens, and Deshaun Watson.

The lawsuit centers around alleged actions that violate NCAA rules. Donor-driven NIL collectives are crucial for attracting and retaining talent, yet only one school has faced NIL infractions.

Rashada’s fractured relationship with Florida began with his initial commitment to Miami on June 26, 2022. He signed a $9.5 million NIL deal with Miami booster John Ruiz, which later involved a $150,000 payment facilitated by Hathcock to avoid litigation, according to the complaint.

During an official visit to Florida in early June 2022, Hathcock told Rashada he could do whatever it took to land him with the Gators, including securing employment for Rashada’s father. After Rashada committed to Miami, Hathcock offered him an $11 million UF-affiliated NIL deal, running through Hathcock’s Velocity Automotive and his NIL collective, The Gator Guard.

Talks with Florida resumed in October 2022 when Castro-Walker contacted Rashada’s agents, expressing urgency to secure his commitment. Negotiations ensued, leading to a $13.85 million contract. Hathcock was to pay $5.35 million, including a $500,000 signing bonus, through Velocity Automotive, as stated in court documents.

The complaint alleges that Hathcock, Castro-Walker, and Coach Napier never intended to enforce Hathcock’s promise. On Nov. 10, 2022, the day Rashada flipped to Florida, Hathcock declined to fund the NIL payments through Velocity Automotive or The Gator Guard, instead opting to use The Gator Collective. The Gator Collective’s attorney, Jennifer Grosso, drafted the NIL contract, assuring Rashada of the payments.

However, Rashada’s first $500,000 payment, due Dec. 5, 2022, never happened.

The Gator Collective terminated the contract on Dec. 6, despite multiple reassurances. By National Signing Day on Dec. 21, 2022, Rashada still hadn’t received any payments, delaying his National Letter of Intent signature.

The lawsuit claims Coach Napier promised Rashada $1 million if he signed with UF on National Signing Day. Ultimately, Rashada never received the payments that were supposively agreed upon.

The defendants also allegedly interfered with Rashada’s $9.5 million contract with Miami and his business relationships there. As a result, Rashada suffered financial losses. The complaint argues that the defendants intended to end his agreement with Miami for their benefit.

After severing ties with Florida and reopening his high school recruitment, Rashada’s previous NIL contracts were cleared. His time at Arizona State did not come with lucrative financial packages. However, Georgia saw potential in Rashada, leading to his transfer there.

Rashada’s lawsuit claims he suffered significant damages from the fraud, including the loss of a $9.5 million contract at Miami and missed opportunities with other NIL collectives. Castro-Walker is no longer with Florida, Hathcock is not involved in NIL activities, and his Gator Guard collective has shut down.

Coach Napier is also entering a critical year for his future at Florida and has had recent momentum in the transfer portal with excitement for the upcoming season.

Attorney Rusty Hardin said, “Sadly, this type of fraud is becoming more commonplace in the Wild West of today’s college NIL landscape. Wealthy alumni are exploiting young athletes with false promises of life-changing sums of money, only to renege on their commitments. Jaden seeks to hold these defendants accountable and expose their unchecked abuse of power.”

Florida and Napier will have a response, but that is yet to be determined. Stay tuned for this ongoing story.