Top college football quarterback Jaden Rashada sued individuals associated with his failed recruitment to the University of Florida, claiming the football powerhouse’s coach, staff, and a top booster caused him to miss out on a $13.85m deal for the use of his name, image, and likeness (NIL).
The suit marks the first time a college athlete has sued a coach or booster over a NIL deal, according to ESPN, since such arrangements became legal in 2021.
Mr Rashada’s lawsuit, filed in Florida federal court on Tuesday, claims that the effort is “emblematic of the abuses running rampant in the world of big-time college football.”
In the suit, the quarterback, claims that Florida coach Billy Napier, since-fired UF football staffer Marcus Castro-Walker, and a prominent Florida football booster named Hugh Hathcock worked in concert during negotiations in which Mr Rashada ultimately was unable to secure an allegedly promised $13.85m NIL deal.
The Independent has contacted the UF football program, as well as Mr Hathcock and Mr Castro-Walker, for comment.
The lawsuit details a dizzying back-and-forth series of negotiations surrounding Mr Rashada, who initially commited to play for the University of Miami in June of 2022.
After the announcement, according to the suit, a wealthy Florida businessman and UF booster named Hugh Hathcock began courting Mr Rashada, verbally offering an $11m NIL deal, a figure allegedly increased to nearly $14m by October.
The following month, Mr Rashada announced he intended to sign for Florida instead.
Under the initial terms of the deal, according to the suit, Mr Rashada would receive $5.35m from Mr Hathcock, including a $500,000 signing bonus via Mr Hathcock’s business Velocity Automotive, and the remainder via Gator Guard, the businessman’s NIL collective.
Jaden Rashada #5 of the Arizona State Sun…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football-star-sues-university-234915528.html
Author : The Independent
Publish date : 2024-05-21 23:49:15
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