For Florida Football, the news never stops. Last week, the Gators were dealt a severe blow when former pledge Jaden Rashada filed a lawsuit against Billy Napier and other parties for a botched NIL transaction that was intended to bring Rashada to Gainesville.
Napier discussed the complaint at his appearance at the SEC Spring Meetings and stated he was confident the verdict will be in his favor.
Morgan and Morgan, Florida Football
The main contention of the case against Napier is that Napier called Rashada and offered him a $1 million signing bonus in exchange for him signing his letter of commitment with the Gators.
Soon after, the contract was cancelled, and Rashada never made it to Gainesville.
In a video that OutKick’s Trey Wallace shared on X, Napier answered questions from the media regarding the case during the SEC Spring Meetings. Though hesitant, Napier was sure that everything would work out for him.
Everyone should be aware that I am unable to comment at this time because of the litigation. However, I am confident in our legal counsel, I am at ease with my decisions, and I appreciate the university’s support.”
It appears that most legal professionals believe Rashada will have a difficult time establishing his case against Napier. The NIL contract’s phrasing made it obvious that either party could end the agreement at any moment. Furthermore, because Florida is a two-party consent state, it will be challenging to prove in court that Napier promised Rashada $1 million, even in the unlikely event that there is a tape of the conversation. Evidence of Napier’s approval to have the call recorded would also be required.
A possible financial pledge from Napier would have been a grave infraction of NCAA regulations in 2022, which forbade coaches from participating directly in NIL discussions. But with the NCAA halting its own investigation into the Rashada case and the settlement of an antitrust suit last week that will permit colleges to pay players directly in the near future, there seems to be a good chance Napier will get out of this situation unscathed.
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