According to reports, the NCAA is currently probing the 2022 recruitment of ASU quarterback Jaden Rashada by the Florida football program. Rashada, who initially committed to Miami in November 2022, later withdrew his commitment to join Florida by signing a letter of intent. However, he was released from the agreement a month later due to the collapse of a $13 million NIL deal with a collective.
The NCAA officially informed Florida of the investigation on June 9, 2023, as revealed in a letter obtained by the Associated Press. Florida’s spokesperson, Steve McClain, assured ESPN that the university would cooperate fully with the NCAA, emphasizing its commitment to maintaining high standards of excellence and integrity on and off the field. McClain also cited adherence to NCAA confidentiality policies, preventing additional comments on the matter.
Head coach Billy Napier, unable to disclose specific details, acknowledged the complexities of the current NIL structure with third parties, agents, marketing representatives, lawyers, and collectives playing roles in player agreements. Napier’s comments were made in February 2023 when discussing Rashada’s decision to request a release from his national letter of intent in January 2023.
Rashada, after switching his commitment to the Gators, entered into an NIL contract with the Gator Collective, an entity not officially affiliated with Florida. According to The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel and Andy Staples, the contract guaranteed Rashada $13.85 million over four years for minimal NIL services like social media posts and autographing items.
This deal, had it materialized, would have been the largest known NIL offer ever made to a college player. However, following its breakdown, Rashada sought his release, and the Gator Collective disbanded.
The NCAA’s scrutiny of Florida’s recruitment practices aligns with a broader effort to curb the use of NIL deals as enticements during the recruiting process. This follows the recent revelation that Florida State had violated ethical conduct rules by presenting an NIL opportunity to a prospect during recruitment. Subsequently, the NCAA imposed penalties on FSU, including fines, reductions in football scholarships and recruiting opportunities, and a one-year separation from the collective involved in the deal.
