Former Florida recruit Jaden Rashada is suing Gators coach Billy Napier and booster Hugh Hathcock over a failed name, image, and likeness deal worth nearly $14 million. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Pensacola, accuses Napier and Hathcock of fraudulent misrepresentation, aiding and abetting fraud, civil conspiracy, and other charges. Rashada’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, stated that this type of fraud is becoming more common in the college NIL landscape, and Jaden seeks to hold the defendants accountable for their actions.
The lawsuit does not allege breach of contract, suggesting that the NIL deal could have been terminated by either party without penalty. Both the University Athletic Association and the University of Florida are not named in the complaint, according to UAA spokesman Steve McClain. Florida had been under investigation by the NCAA since last June regarding Rashada’s recruitment, but the NCAA halted investigations into booster-backed collectives making NIL deals following lawsuits challenging NCAA rules against recruiting inducements.
Rashada had initially agreed to play for Miami with a $9.5 million NIL deal but was lured away to Florida by Napier and Hathcock with a $13.85 million deal. However, the contract was terminated before Rashada could arrive on campus, leaving him with no faith in the UF football team’s leadership. Rashada was eventually granted his release and signed with Arizona State before transferring to Georgia. The deal was with the Gator Collective, an independent fundraising group tied to the university, which has since been disbanded.
Additional defendants in the lawsuit include Marcus Castro-Walker, the school’s former director of player engagement and NIL, who now works for the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, and Velocity Automotive Solutions LLC, which was slated to provide funding for Rashada’s deal. The complaint quotes text messages between Rashada’s agents and Gator Collectives representatives but does not provide any from Napier. The lawsuit seeks damages of at least $10 million and a jury trial to hold the defendants accountable for their actions in the failed NIL deal.
The situation surrounding Rashada’s recruitment and failed NIL deal has put the Gators back in the spotlight after the NCAA had halted investigations into similar cases. The lawsuit highlights the complexities and challenges present in the evolving college NIL landscape as wealthy alumni and boosters offer significant sums to student-athletes, only to renege on their commitments. Rashada’s case brings attention to the need for accountability and transparency in NIL deals, as athletes navigate this new era of opportunities and potential pitfalls.
