Jadan Rashada lawsuit against Florida, Billy Napier receives official court date

According to Mitch Gilfillan, a court date has been set for the lawsuit between Jaden Rashada and Florida head coach Billy Napier. The trial will take place on July 20, 2026, while all depositions must be presented by Oct. 1, 2025.

Rashada filed the lawsuit against Napier in May 2024. This all stems from an NIL deal that helped Florida flip the former four-star quarterback away from the Miami Hurricanes. Court documents show a Gators NIL collective reneged on a four-year, $13.85 million contract.

This meant Rashada never played for Florida and was out of millions of dollars. His college career has since continued elsewhere, currently looking for the third school of his career.

“(Florida booster Hugh) Hathcock allegedly boasted to (former Florida director of NIL and player engagement Marcus) Castro-Walker, within earshot of Rashada and his family, that he would deliver whatever NIL compensation package was needed to secure Rashada’s commitment to UF,” Judge M. Casey Rodgers of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida wrote in a ruling, sending the case to discovery.

“And while Hathcock and Castro-Walker were in the thick of the initial negotiations with Rashada’s agents, Hathcock allegedly said that he ‘just listen[ed] to’ whatever Napier and Castro-Walker told him to do. Napier’s putative actions, in concert with the surrounding circumstances alleged in the Amended Complaint, at the very least created a plausible appearance that Castro-Walker and Hathcock were acting as Rashada’s apparent agents during his recruitment to UF.”

More on Jadan Rashada, current playing situation

Rashada wound up signing with Arizona State coming out of high school, spending one season with Kenny Dillingham. He quickly entered the NCAA transfer portal and found himself in the SEC with the Georgia Bulldogs.

But once again, Rashada finds himself on the open market. Nakos provided the latest information on Rashada, saying two visits were being scheduled. Fresno State and UConn are said to have an interest in the quarterback. North Carolina and Bill Belichick were thought to be an option but a trip to Chapel Hill has reportedly been called off. Wherever Rashada ends up, it will be his third school in as many years.

Rashada played high school football at Pittsburg (CA), where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 73 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.