Former Florida QB Jaden Rashada Resolves NIL Lawsuit Through Settlement

Quarterback Jaden Rashada has reached a settlement agreement in his lawsuit against former Florida coach Billy Napier and others over a failed $13.85 million NIL deal. The terms of the settlement remain confidential, ending the legal dispute that began when the promised agreement fell through in 2022.

Former University of Florida quarterback Jaden Rashada has reached a settlement agreement on Tuesday, bringing closure to his name, image and likeness legal battle against former Gators head coach Billy Napier and several other parties.

The settlement terms have not been made public.

Those named in the lawsuit included Napier, Florida booster Hugh Hathcock, Hathcock’s business, and former Florida staff member Marcus Castro-Walker, according to reports from The Athletic.

Rashada filed the lawsuit claiming the defendants failed to honor a four-year NIL deal worth $13.85 million that was negotiated while he was completing his senior year of high school in Pittsburg, California, during late 2022.

The signal-caller had originally committed to the University of Miami before switching his commitment to Florida, though he ultimately never took the field for the Gators.

Following the settlement announcement, Rashada’s legal representative, Rusty Hardin, shared with ESPN: “He’s a bright young man with great judgment. He thought it was time to move on. He made the point he wanted to make, and now he’s ready to go play football.”

Legal counsel for Napier, attorneys Hank Coxe and Michael Lockamy, issued a statement to The Athletic saying: “The parties have reached a confidential resolution of the litigation. The case will be dismissed, and all parties are moving forward.”

During the litigation process, a federal judge noted in 2025, according to The Athletic, that Rashada’s claims “advance a compelling narrative that the Defendants were all marching to the beat of the same drum throughout Rashada’s failed recruitment to UF, each taking interwoven and often overlapping steps designed to lure Rashada away from Miami all while knowing they would never make good on the NIL promises made and leading Rashada on until his other NIL offers dried up.”

Rashada saw limited action at Arizona State during the 2023 season, taking the field in three contests where he completed 53.7% of his throws for 485 yards, recording four touchdown passes and three interceptions.

Following his time with the Sun Devils, he moved to the University of Georgia but never appeared in games for the Bulldogs before transferring to Sacramento State. During his stint with the Hornets last season, he completed 40.5% of his passing attempts for 264 yards with one touchdown and one interception across six appearances.

Just three weeks ago, Rashada made another transfer, this time joining Mississippi State.