Scott Stricklin on Jaden Rashada lawsuit vs. Billy Napier: 'I've got a tremendous amount of trust in Billy'

Speaking at Tuesday’s SEC spring meetings, Florida coach Billy Napier said he was “comfortable” with his actions amid the NIL-related lawsuit brought by former Gators signee and incoming Georgia quarterback Jaden Rashada. Wednesday, the coach got more support from UF athletics director Scott Stricklin.

Stricklin voiced his “tremendous amount of trust” in Napier while speaking with reporters in Destin, one day after Napier met with reporters.

“I’ve got a tremendous amount of trust in Billy,” Stricklin said. “Not only in who he is as a person, but how he conducts himself and how he treats other people.”

According to the lawsuit – filed last week in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida – Napier allegedly promised Rashada $1 million if he signed his National Letter of Intent on Signing Day. Rashada also claimed he was repeatedly lied to so he’d flip his commitment from Miami to Florida.

Former Florida director of NIL and player engagement Marcus Castro-Walker and booster Hugh Hathcock were also named as defendants in the suit. Hathcock’s former company, Velocity Automotive, was named, too.

Napier was asked about the situation Tuesday and, while he said he couldn’t specifically comment on the legal process, he added he was “comfortable” with how he handled things.

“I’m comfortable with my actions,” Napier said. “‘I’m thankful for the university’s support and we’re going to keep it at that and let the process take its course.”

The other ripple to the situation is that Jaden Rashada is now preparing to play for an SEC rival. After playing at Arizona State last season, he entered the transfer portal and committed to Georgia, where he’ll sit behind Carson Beck. When asked about the lawsuit on Tuesday, Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart said it’s outside his “bubble,” and he’s keeping his focus on his team.

However, he confirmed Rashada informed him of the lawsuit the day before filing.

“He told me the day before they decided to do the lawsuit,” Smart said. “I told him that’d be between his family and his attorneys. I’m not involved in it, Georgia’s not involved in it in any way.

“But Jaden is a good football player. We knew Jaden when he was coming out. He’s got a good body of work. … Happy he’s joining us and looking forward to working with him.”

Rashada’s first payment of his four-year, $13.85 million deal was scheduled for Dec. 5, 2022, in the amount of $500,000 – a signing bonus, sources previously told On3’s Pete Nakos. That payment never materialized, despite multiple reassurances, according to the case. On Dec. 6, the day after the bonus was due, the Gator Collective terminated the contract in a letter sent to Rashada, sources told On3. 

Pete Nakos contributed.