The Jaden Rashada saga just won’t end for the Florida Gators football program. The latest installment reports that Rashada has filed a lawsuit against Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier, former University Athletic Association employee Marcus Castro-Walker, and UF booster Hugh Hathcock alleging fraud over a “cancelled” NIL deal.
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Jaden Rashada, a highly recruited quarterback from Pittsburg High School in California, initially committed to the University of Miami due to a $9.5 million NIL deal. He later switched his commitment to the University of Florida, enticed by a $13.85 million offer. However, a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in Pensacola alleges that this deal was abruptly and unfairly terminated, leading to charges of fraud and misrepresentation against UF’s Head Coach Billy Napier and booster Hugh Hathcock.
On Tuesday, Rashada filed a seven-count complaint in the U.S. District Court in Pensacola. He accused Napier and the Gator boosters, spearheaded by automotive technology entrepreneur Hugh Hathcock, of fraudulent misrepresentation and inducement, aiding and abetting fraud, civil conspiracy to commit fraud, negligent misrepresentations, tortious interference with a business relationship or contract, aiding and abetting tortious interference, and vicarious liability. The complaint calls for a jury trial and seeks damages of at least $10 million.
“But before Rashada could arrive on Florida’s campus, the $13.85 million contract was terminated – suddenly and without warning,” his attorneys wrote. “The defendants’ unethical and illegal behavior did not end with the NIL contract being canceled, according to the complaint (see attached). They continued to lie and make material misrepresentations to Rashada in an effort to keep him at Florida, but compensate him considerably less than what they initially promised.”
According to the news release, Napier stated that UF alumni had promised Rashada $1 million if he signed with UF on National Signing Day.
However, Rashada withdrew his official intent to play for Florida and instead joined Arizona State. After one season, he transferred to the University of Georgia for the upcoming season.
The lawsuit represents one side of the story. Florida athletic department spokesman Steve McClain told On3 regarding Rashada’s lawsuit against Napier, “We do not comment on ongoing litigation, and neither the University Athletic Association nor the University are named in the complaint. The UAA will provide for Coach Napier’s personal counsel, and we will direct all questions to those representatives.”
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