In a potentially groundbreaking development in the evolving landscape of NIL disputes, a federal judge ruled that most of quarterback Jaden Rashada’s lawsuit against Florida head coach Billy Napier and others will move forward into the discovery phase, clearing the path for a future trial.
U.S. District Judge M. Casey Rodgers, presiding in the Northern District of Florida, dismissed some elements of the case but allowed Rashada’s key allegations – including fraudulent misrepresentation and inducement, conspiracy to commit fraud, and negligent misrepresentation – to survive motions to dismiss and proceed in court.
The lawsuit, originally filed by Rashada in May 2024, centers around an alleged $13.85 million NIL agreement that allegedly influenced his decision to decommit from Miami and instead sign with Florida in November 2022.
According to court filings, the deal fell through after his commitment, leaving the quarterback without a team or the financial security the contract had promised.
Rashada’s legal team named Napier, former Florida NIL director Marcus Castro-Walker, prominent UF booster Hugh Hathcock, and Hathcock’s company Velocity Automotive as defendants.
Each party had filed motions in recent months seeking to have the case thrown out. However, Judge Rodgers ruled that the central fraud-related claims were strong enough to merit further legal proceedings.
While the court dismissed Rashada’s tortious interference claim and a separate conspiracy allegation regarding an alleged boycott, the bulk of the case remains intact – a rare development in an NIL era still defining its legal boundaries.
Rashada, who spent time at Arizona State in 2023 and later transferred to Georgia for the 2024 season, has largely kept quiet publicly about the ongoing legal battle.
The case has drawn national attention as one of the first high-profile NIL lawsuits to advance past the dismissal stage.
The judge’s ruling ensures that the parties will now enter discovery, where depositions, internal communications, and contractual documentation may shed further light on what exactly unfolded behind the scenes of Rashada’s recruitment saga.
As NIL continues to reshape college sports, this lawsuit could set a precedent for how broken promises and alleged misconduct are handled in the courtroom – particularly when millions of dollars and high-profile institutions are involved.
What are your thoughts on the Rashada situation???
