Billy Napier and the Florida Gators appears to have lost one of its top recruits due to a name, image and likeness deal falling through.
Quarterback recruit Jaden Rashada requested the release of his National Letter of Intent (LOI) on Tuesday, according to multiple reports.
Team Speed quarterback Jaden Rashada before the Under Armor Next All-America football game on January 3, 2023, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
(Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Rashada, a four-star recruit from Pittsburg, Calif., didn’t register in Florida last week, raising red flags that his future in Gainesville was in doubt.
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Rashada’s commitment to the Gators was contingent on a four-year, $13 million NIL contract he signed with the Gator Collective, according to The Associated Press.
The Gator Collective is a «fan club that connects athletes with fans and allows athletes to get compensation for their name, image and likeness.»
On December 7, Rashada reportedly received a letter from the head of the Gator Collective wishing to rescind the deal, taking Florida’s football program by surprise.
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The situation could have further ramifications as Rashada’s representatives could file a lawsuit against the Gator Collective and potentially the Florida department of athletics, according to the AP.
Quarterback Jaden Rashada runs with the ball during the Under Armor Next All-America Game in Orlando on January 3, 2023.
(Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Last week, Rashada’s father told 247 Sports that he and his son were «figuring out some things right now with Florida and hoping they get resolved soon.»
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«I just think there’s a high level of trust on both ends,» Napier said of Rashada when the recruiting class was announced. «I’m very excited about what he will bring to our team… I can’t praise Jaden enough in terms of who he is as a person, as a leader, his character. Jaden is a guy who came here and fell in love.» with the University of Florida and I really connected with a lot of people here. He was sincere.»
Rashada is the No. 7 ranked QB recruit in the 247 Sports class of 2023 and originally committed to Miami before moving to Florida in November.
Jaden Rashada watches the game between the Florida Gators and the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 12, 2022 in Gainesville, Florida.
(James Gilbert/Getty Images)
In the short term, the loss of Rashada is a blow to Florida’s football program, which is now struggling to gain depth at quarterback.
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The Gators lost Anthony Richardson in the NFL Draft and fired backup quarterback Jalen Kitna in December after he was arrested on child pornography charges.
Florida did sign ex Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz in late December to compete with Jack Miller III for the starting job.
Fox News’ Scott Thompson contributed to this report