Florida Football coach Billy Napier, along with booster Hugh Hathcock and former staff member Marcus Castro-Walker, have filed motions to dismiss a lawsuit brought by former quarterback signee Jaden Rashada. The lawsuit involves a failed $13.85 million name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal.
Rashada’s lawsuit, which names Napier, Hathcock, and Castro-Walker, alleges fraud and misconduct in luring him away from Miami with false NIL promises. Rashada, who played one season at Arizona State before transferring to Georgia, claims he was misled about the financial terms of his commitment to Florida. Initially a favorite to join the Gators, Rashada verbally committed to Miami in June 2022, decommitted in November, and then flipped to Florida. He signed his letter of intent in December but was released from it in January 2023.
The lawsuit alleges that Napier promised a $1 million payment if Rashada signed with the Gators on National Signing Day. In their motions to dismiss, Napier, Hathcock, and Castro-Walker deny the allegations, arguing there is insufficient evidence to support the claims. Napier argues he couldn’t have defrauded Rashada because the alleged promises were made after Rashada abandoned his Miami NIL deal. Castro-Walker’s motion calls the lawsuit “fiction.”
Castro-Walker was fired in February after being named in an NCAA investigation related to the Rashada saga, which has since been paused. Hathcock had helped start the Gator Guard, an NIL collective for Florida, which has halted operations as efforts have shifted to Florida Victorious.
Napier will lead the Gators in their season opener against Miami on August 31.
Leave a Reply