Jaden Rashada sues Florida Gators’ Billy Napier over $13 million NIL deal

Former Florida signee Jaden Rashada has sued coach Billy Napier and one of the Gators’ top boosters over an eight-figure name, image and likeness dispute — the most drastic step yet in the wildest story of college sports’ name, image and likeness era.

The case’s outline has been known for months: Rashada was a top-100 national recruit who signed with the Gators in December 2022 but backed out after the deal fell through.

But the 37-page complaint filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court’s Northern District of Florida provides specific figures, allegations of fraud and new details — including a $1 million signing day offer relayed by Napier himself. The suit called the case “emblematic of the abuses running rampant in the world of big-time college football.”

“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 suit said.

That insertion, according to the complaint, started early in Rashada’s recruitment. On his first visit in June 2022, booster Hugh Hathcock told Rashada he’d provide “whatever Jaden needed to come to UF.” Hathcock is one of Florida’s biggest donors; his name is on the suite tower at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

A few days after the trip, Rashada publicly committed to Miami. The suit said he had a $9.5 million deal to join the Hurricanes.

That fall, Hathcock and Marcus Castro-Walker — then the Gators’ director of name, image and likeness — worked on a package worth $13.85 million over four years. According to the complaint, it included a $500,000 signing bonus and would be paid by Hathcock, his car company (Velocity Automotive) and his name, image and likeness collective (Gator Guard). The funding source later shifted to another third-party name, image and likeness entity, the Gator Collective. Rashada agreed to the terms and flipped to Florida.

The deal fell apart. As Rashada awaited $500,000 in December 2022, the Gator Collective ended the contract. Hathcock’s Gator Guard reclaimed the deal. The suit said Hathcock sent Rashada $150,000 to “avoid possible litigation with Miami booster John Ruiz, who was seeking repayment from the $9.5 million NIL deal ...”

Ruiz told The Athletic neither he nor his company ever had a $9.5 million deal with Rashada.

Rashada was still waiting for the half-a-million-dollar payment on the December signing day, so he waited to submit his UF paperwork. That’s when, according to the suit, Napier intevened. He told the recruit’s dad that Hathcock would send $1 million once Rashada signed with UF that day. UF’s name, image and likeness director, Castro-Walker, stressed Napier’s “power as head coach” and told Rashada’s agent the deal would come through.

Less than an hour later, Rashada signed with the Gators. The $1 million never arrived. Rashada left for Arizona State and has since transferred to Georgia.

The complaint argues Napier, Hathcock and Castro-Walker committed fraud and negligence while interfering with contracts because they never had the funds to pay Rashada or the intention to do so. Hathcock’s car company is also a defendant; the Gators are not.

“We do not comment on ongoing litigation, and neither the University Athletic Association nor the University are named in the complaint,” UAA spokesperson Steve McClain said. “The UAA will provide for Coach Napier’s personal counsel, and we will direct all questions to those representatives.”

Napier has not commented. Castro-Walker is no longer employed by the Gators, and UF’s current name, image and likeness collective (Florida Victorious) launched last spring.

Rashada’s recruitment drew scrutiny from the NCAA over potential violations of name, image and likeness rules (which have since changed).

The player seeks compensation for the $9.5 million he could have made at Miami and punitive damages to “assist in deterring and preventing similar conduct.”

Rashada’s attorney is Rusty Hardin, whose has represented Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson and former baseball ace Roger Clemens.

The case comes during a crucial offseason for Napier, who’s 11-14 through two seasons.

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