Ex-Florida QB suing HC, booster over near-$14M NIL deal

Jaden Rashada’s college football career has had quite the tumultuous start.

The four-star recruit and seventh-ranked QB in the Class of 2023 originally committed to the University of Miami a year-and-a-half ago, but flipped his commitment to Florida that November after being promised a $13.85 million payday. Once that deal fell through, Rashada transferred to Arizona for a year before transferring to Georgia this offseason. 

Now, the 20-year-old signal-caller is suing multiple UF-related individuals on the grounds of fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent inducement, aiding and abetting fraud, civil conspiracy to commit fraud, negligent misrepresentations, tortious interference, aiding and abetting tortious interference and vicarious liability, per On3.

Gators head coach Billy Napier, former UF director of NIL and player engagement Marcus Castro-Walker, UF booster Hugh Hathcock, and Hatchcock’s former company Velocity Automotive, which was supposed to fund his NIL deal, are all named defendants in the complaint, which alleges they duped Rashada in committing to Florida with no intention of paying him any of the agreed upon NIL funds.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart was aware of Rashada’s intention to sue Florida and had zero issue with it, according to On3.