The University of Florida has released an official statement on Georgia QB Jaden Rashada’s lawsuit against Gators HC Billy Napier and others.
On Tuesday, Rashada claimed that he was defrauded of millions of dollars in NIL money by Napier and the school.
The former four-star quarterback also alleged that Napier promised his dad a $1 million “partial payment” upon signing with UF. However, Rashada never got the money and he says UF’s boosters never fulfilled his deal.
Now Florida athletic department spokesperson Steve McClain has offered some words on the matter. Stating:
We do not comment on ongoing litigation, and neither the University Athletic Association nor the University are named in the complaint. The UAA will provide for Coach Napier’s personal counsel, and we will direct all questions to those representatives.
Rashada initially committed to the Miami Hurricanes in the summer of 2022 before flipping his commitment to Napier and the Gators later that year.
In the suit Rashada claims he was offered $9.5 million in NIL funds from Miami and that his arrival in Gainesville was contingent on a four-year, $13.5 million offer.
Ultimately, the deal fell through and Rashada was released from his letter of intent. He then went on to attend Arizona State where he started two games for the Sun Devils before getting hurt.
This April Rashada entered the transfer portal and now finds himself on Georgia’s roster. As of right now, the California-born QB is the only known collegiate athlete to sue his coach or a school’s boosters over NIL.