Investigation into Florida Football Program’s Recruitment Scandal: NCAA Delves Into 2022 Recruitment Deal for Quarterback Jaden Rashada

The NCAA is investigating Florida’s football program regarding the 2022 recruitment of quarterback Jaden Rashada, a person who was interviewed, as well as a second person who was briefed on the investigation, confirmed to The Athletic.

The Tampa Bay Times reported Friday that the NCAA sent the school a notice of inquiry last summer, though the letter did not specify the subject of the investigation. The person interviewed, who was granted anonymity in order to discuss the matter, said he was asked about the transfer who committed to Florida that year as well.

Rashada, a four-star recruit from Northern California in the class of 2023, was the subject of a wild NIL bidding war in 2022 involving boosters at Florida and Miami. On Nov. 10, 2022, Rashada, who had previously committed to Miami, signed a deal with the now-defunct Gator Collective promising a staggering $13.85 million over four years, The Athletic reported last February. Rashada announced his commitment to Florida that night.

However, the collective reneged on the deal less than a month later. Rashada still signed with Florida during the December signing period but did not enroll in January and asked for a release from his letter of intent. He subsequently signed with Arizona State, where he started the Sun Devils’ season opener and played in three games last season.

“We have been and will continue to cooperate with the NCAA,” Florida senior associate athletic director Steve McClain said in a statement. “We hold ourselves to high standards of excellence and integrity on and off the field. Because we follow NCAA policies about maintaining confidentiality, we are unable to offer additional comments.”

According to the two sources with knowledge of the investigation, the NCAA has inquired about the role of Florida staff member Marcus Castro-Walker, who is listed on the school’s website as director of player engagement and NIL, and booster Hugh Hathcock, who pledged $12.6 million to Florida’s athletic department in April 2022 and later launched the Gator Guard collective. Multiple Hathcock tweets posted right before Rashada’s commitment, hinting at a great day coming for Florida, also alluded to possible involvement in the deal.

Florida could be the third school in its own state to face NCAA penalties over NIL or NIL-adjacent activity. Last February, Miami (Fla.) women’s basketball coach Katie Meier was charged with two Level II violations, which were mitigated through a negotiated resolution, and led to one year of probation and recruiting sanctions. The violations were regarding the facilitating of impermissible contact between booster John Ruiz and the Cavinder Twins, who joined the Miami team.

Earlier this month, the NCAA levied penalties against Florida State football, offensive coordinator Alex Atkins and a collective over impermissible contact between a transfer prospect and a booster, again through a negotiated resolution. Atkins drove then-Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims to meet with a representative from the Rising Spear collective in 2022 and later provided false or misleading info about it. Atkins was given a show-cause penalty, FSU was fined and received probation and scholarship reductions, and the school must disassociate itself from the collective for one year and the booster for three years.

As much as NIL has changed college sports, NCAA rules do not permit it to be used in recruiting. Recent rule changes now allow schools to connect athletes with boosters, but only enrolled players, not prospects.

(Photo: James Gilbert / Getty Images)

2024-01-20 02:52:55
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