Top recruits continue to learn from Jaden Rashada saga

NASHVILLE – Speaking to a number of athletes in recent days at the On3 Elite Series, the top concern for top recruits in the 2025 class when it comes to NIL is the potential for broken promises. 

Seeing a real-life example play out publicly only exacerbated concerns. 

Sixteen months ago, Florida released quarterback Jaden Rashada from his National Letter of Intent following a highly publicized, NIL-fueled breakup. Now that separation is the center of a lawsuit. 

At the heart of the split was a four-year, $13.85 million contract that played a crucial role in Rashada flipping his commitment from Miami to Florida in November 2022. He’s now suing Florida head coach Billy Napier, booster Hugh Hathcock and former UF employee Marcus Castro-Walker. 

According to court documents, the Gators ultimately reneged on the unprecedented NIL collective agreement, leaving the quarterback without a school and out millions of dollars. While third-party, donor-funded NIL collectives have become more professionalized and athletes can now openly negotiate because of the NCAA’s courtroom losses, making sure assurances are in place is crucial. 

“That’s all about building trust with people and knowing you’re around the right people,” said five-star safety Trey McNutt, who has official visits scheduled to USC and Florida in the next week. “I know myself, I can see through people when I’m talking to them, whether they’re real or fake. Situations do happen like that and it’s unfortunate. But they just got to move on from it and build back up. I would hope it doesn’t happen to me, but you also have to read the contract right and know what you’re signing. 

“And it’s super important to have it on paper, have it written down, and be able to read it over.”

Recruits learning contracts on paper is crucial

North Carolina quarterback commit Bryce Baker has not focused on NIL during his recruitment. A Kernersville, North Carolina, native, playing close to home and being developed has been crucial in his decision to land with the Tar Heels.

But as he’s learned more about the Rashada situation, the four-star quarterback realized how important it will be to understand the full scope of North Carolina’s NIL situation before he enrolls. 

“The main thing that I talked about with my parents was just the opportunity that I have as a player, that I need to go and establish that,” Baker said. “I’m not going to be greedy up front with it, but it opened my eyes about NIL and the possibilities of my earnings that I could make. It just initiates that conversation quicker once I get back on campus. … The importance of having it in written form, it can be on paper and documented. Taking the time to take the right steps.”

Included in the 37-page filing by Rashada is an accusation that Napier promised Rashada $1 million if he signed his National Letter of Intent on early National Signing Day in 2022. The quarterback was also allegedly owed a $500,000 signing bonus on Dec. 5, 2022, which was never paid out despite multiple reassurances, according to the court documents.

Most of the allegations included in the complaint are not accompanied with evidence outside of text messages. There are no texts from Billy Napier in the suit. It’s the latest chapter in the NIL-fueled storyline between Rashada and the Gators. And it’s another unprecedented moment in college sports, with a current quarterback suing a head coach.

Five-star Will Black shares navigating agent world

As On3’s No. 5 overall prospect in the 2025 class, Notre Dame offensive line commit Will Black said he has not been overwhelmed by NIL offers. As a native of London, Ontario, he’s working to learn more about how he can leverage his NIL as an international recruit.

The 6-foot-7.5, 283-pound offensive tackle is aware of agents trying to make dollars off his success, too.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a big concern, but I’m definitely aware,” he said. “I’ve tried to stay careful with that. I’ve had agents reach out to me, trying to get me to sign something quick and trying to push me to hit send. And I was very sketched out, so I talked to Notre Dame and didn’t sign.”

Four-star quarterback and top-100 recruit Keelon Russell has been locked in with SMU since September. Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss and Oregon have all remained in contact and are still in the mix. He completed over 74% of his pass attempts for 3,267 yards and 35 touchdowns to just three interceptions in 2023 at Duncanville (Texas).

Russell isn’t worried about what he calls “front-end money.” He believes he can make NIL dollars wherever he goes from his work on the field.

“I’m an honest believer that money is a thing as we go through this process, but the money that is talked about getting when you’re on campus is the front-end money,” he said. “I’m a firm believer that you’re going to get millions of dollars on the backend. I believe you may start off at $400,000 one year and you may end up at $800,000. It doesn’t really concern me because you got processes – the thing for me is getting to the next level.”