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Jaden Rashada shares new details in amended lawsuit against Billy Napier
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Jaden Rashada filed an updated complaint to his lawsuit against Florida head coach Billy Napier this week, per a report.
Rashada, who now plays for Georgia after spending his freshman season at Arizona State, originally filed his lawsuit earlier this offseason. He’s seeking damages after his reported $13.85 million NIL deal with the program fell through.
The amended lawsuit, obtained by the Tampa Bay Times’ Matt Baker, includes new details about the meeting where Rashada claims he was offered a $13.85 million NIL deal to flip his commitment from Miami to Florida.
In addition to Napier, the updated lawsuit also implicates former Florida staffer Marcus Castro-Walker and Florida booster Hugh Hathcock.
Here’s an excerpt from the lawsuit, obtained by the Tampa Bay Times:
“Upon entering the meeting room, Castro-Walker informed Jaden’s father, Harlen, that one of UF’s biggest boosters was there that day and that he wanted to speak with Jaden. Castro-Walker explained that Hathcock was there to drop off his Lamborghini for a photo shoot, but ‘you didn’t see him,’ acknowledging the forbidden yet undeniable affiliation between Hathcock and UF’s football program.”
According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Rashada’s new filing alleges that Napier broke the terms of his employment contract as well as Florida’s NIL statute.
In the lawsuit, Rashada alleges that Napier promised a $1 million payment if he signed with Florida on National Signing Day in 2022. Rashada did ultimately sign with the program during the Early Signing Period in December of 2022.
Napier briefly addressed this matter while speaking with reporters earlier this year. Napier said he was limited by what he could say due to the litigation, but added he was “comfortable” with his actions during Rashada’s recruitment.
Napier initially signed a 7-year contract when Florida hired him after the end of the 2021 season. His deal runs through the end of the 2029 college football season.
Florida is entering a pivotal year under Napier after the program failed to reach the postseason in 2023. Florida has the hardest strength-of-schedule in the country this season, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index.
Florida opens the 2024 campaign at home against Miami on Aug. 31.
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Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
