Georgia QB Sues Florida Coach, Boosters for Allegedly Agreeing to $13M NIL Deal and Then Backing Out

Ross D. Franklin/AP

Georgia quarterback Jaden Rashada has filed a lawsuit against Florida’s coach and boosters for their alleged role in a $13 million NIL deal falling through.

According to the lawsuit , Rashada was convinced by coach Billy Napier , top booster Hugh Hathcock , and former staffer Marcus Castro-Walker , to turn down a $9.5 million offer from Miami. Hathcock allegedly told Rashada that he could get “whatever Jaden needed” to convince him to commit to Florida. During a recruiting visit, Rashada’s father was even told he could get a job in the security industry if his son played there.

Florida ultimately offered Rashada $13.85 million with a $500,000 signing bonus. The deal would be funded by Velocity Automotive, a company owned by Hathcock.

That deal hit its first roadblock when Hathcock told Rashada’s representatives that he no longer wanted to route the deal with his company because he planned to sell it. Hathcock claimed the money would come directly from him and the Gator Collective, one of Florida’s NIL collectives.

Then, the day after the $500,000 signing bonus was due, the Gator Collective sent Rashada a letter informing him the deal was terminated. Despite this, Hathcock and Castro-Walker reassured Rashada that he would still get the money.

As the early signing period arrived, Rashada still hadn’t received the bonus. Napier allegedly reached out to the QB to personally vouch that Florida alumni “were good on their promise that Jaden would receive $1 million if he signed with UF on National Signing Day.”

A month after signing day, Rashada asked for his release from his letter of intent with the Gators. He then signed with Arizona. He transferred to Georgia after the 2023 season.

“Jaden’s miserable experience reveals, in stark and dramatic detail, what can happen to young student-athletes when wealthy, win-at-all-cost alumni insert themselves into college football’s recruiting process,” the lawsuit reads.

Rashada claims he suffered the loss of the $9.5 million deal Miami offered him. He’s also seeking punitive damages.