DESTIN, Fla. — The Jaden Rashada story arrived at the SEC meetings, an only-in-the-SEC story, updated for the NIL era: the quarterback at one school suing the coach at another school, both coaches being asked about it, and the commissioner showing his clear annoyance about it.
Rashada filed a lawsuit last week against Florida coach Billy Napier, a Florida staffer, a university booster and an automotive business, seeking more than $10 million in damages, alleging they made “false and fraudulent promises” to induce him into signing with the Gators. After a four-year, $13.85 million deal with a Florida collective was terminated, Rashada transferred to Arizona State, played one season, then transferred to Georgia this month.
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Napier made his first public comments about it Tuesday, telling a group of reporters that he feels “comfortable with my actions.” But he cautioned that he couldn’t say much more because it was ongoing litigation.
“But I do have confidence in our legal team,” Napier said. “I am comfortable with my actions, and I’m thankful for the university’s support. We’re going to keep it at that, kind of let the process take its course.”
Florida isn’t named in the suit. Napier’s co-defendants are Marcus Castro-Walker, who served as the football program’s director of NIL; Florida mega-booster Hugh Hathco*ck; and Hathco*ck’s former automotive business. Castro-Walker was fired by Florida on Feb. 1, after an NCAA investigation into Rashada’s recruitment opened. The investigation since has been paused because of court injunctions against the NCAA’s rules on NIL in recruiting.
Napier is entering a critical third year as the Gators’ coach but has had positive offseason momentum in recruiting and the transfer portal. He was asked if the lawsuit, serving as a reminder of the debacle, hurt that momentum.
Billy Napier is entering his third season as Florida’s coach. (Andy Lyons / Getty Images)
“A lot of this narrative has been out there for a long time, right?” Napier said. “I think we got that question two years ago or a year and a half ago. And I don’t necessarily think it’s slowed us down to some degree. So look. We’re going to keep moving forward. This process has been ongoing — I think ultimately the NCAA process. We can’t say much more than that. I think ultimately we have to treat all parts of our organization — recruits, families — we have to treat them just like we treat the media. The big thing is, yeah. Just real thankful for the university’s support. We’ve got confidence in our legal team.”
The lawsuit says Rashada had a $9.5 million NIL deal in place with Miami, which he reneged on to sign with a Florida collective. But the collective terminated the agreement before a $500,000 signing bonus was supposed to arrive.
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Rashada filing the lawsuit after committing to play at Florida’s arch-rival added another layer to the story. But Georgia coach Kirby Smart said he found out about the lawsuit the day before it was filed when Rashada informed him.
“I told him that would be between him and his family and his attorneys,” Smart said. “Not really for me to get involved in; Georgia’s not involved in it in any way. …
“It’s a sign of the times, possibly. I don’t get really caught up in that. I worry about my little bubble at Georgia. That’s outside the bubble for me.”
Rashada was brought in by Georgia to compete for the No. 2 quarterback job this year, behind starter Carson Beck. The Bulldogs were looking for a fourth scholarship quarterback, especially one with college experience, and Rashada offered that, albeit just three games.
“Jaden is a good football player,” Smart said. “We knew Jaden when he was coming out. He’s got a good body of work. He’s had the ability to play, which is really critical at the quarterback position. And he’s really talented, so we’re happy he’s joining us, and looking forward to working with him.”
Rashada and his family retained powerful Houston attorney Rusty Hardin, initially in January 2023, but Hardin said the family waited to file the suit in hopes that the NCAA investigations into Florida and Miami would be resolved — and that Rashada likes Napier personally.
But ultimately Rashada decided to move forward, just in time for SEC commissioner Greg Sankey to be asked about it.
“I’m not a fan of lawsuits. That’s what I think,” Sankey said, with a wary smile: “Is that the only lawsuit involving a coach in the last year? It won’t be the last. We have a legal system, and people have a right to pursue what they view as grievances. And the legal system sorts that out.”
Required reading
- Jaden Rashada joining Georgia football to become the best version of himself
- Jaden Rashada alleges ‘false promises’ by Florida coach Billy Napier, others in lawsuit
- SEC’s Greg Sankey says ‘there’s an opportunity here’ for college sports; let’s hope he takes it
(Photo of Jaden Rashada: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
Seth Emerson is a senior writer for The Athletic covering Georgia and the SEC. Seth joined The Athletic in 2018 from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and also covered the Bulldogs and the SEC for The Albany Herald from 2002-05. Seth also covered South Carolina for The State from 2005-10. Follow Seth on Twitter @SethWEmerson
